Our Home. My Canvas.
I’ve been remiss. I’ve kept you in the dark. Can you forgive me? I promised a tutorial on the sequin mason jar that I shared last week. You know the post, right? The one where I ran a giveaway for a case of amazing blue Ball mason jars … … and before I get to the ‘how to’ part of this post, how about I finish up that piece of unfinished business. Because the giveaway is closed. A winner … [Read more...]
Did you ever invite yourself to a party? And I’m not talking about some coy, roundabout way of trying to pull an invitation out of someone. Listening with rapt attention as they regale you with tales of their past parties. Gasping and laughing and expressing with great enthusiasm about how much fun it sounded … … letting your voice trail off as you look longingly at the storyteller. Hoping an invitation would … [Read more...]
My baseboards had an inferiority complex. They’re very insecure. Self-conscious. Constantly comparing themselves to other baseboards in the neighborhood … … and coming up short. And skimpy. And, well, wimpy. If my baseboards were on the playground at school, they would get picked last for kickball. The definitely can’t climb that rope in gym class. And I fear they would be in serious … [Read more...]
My less-than-stellar track record with plants has been well documented here. On the blog. Here … and here. Oh, and here too. I’ve even resorted to making paper flowers. But now that area nurseries are stocked with annuals … and those mini nurseries have popped up in the Menards and Jewel parking lots … I’m getting a bit anxious. And not just because I haven’t tended to the garden yet … [Read more...]
“Land of the free because of the brave.” Can I take a moment to thank all those military families out there – past, present, future – for your service and sacrifices for this country? You truly are brave. And have kept this land free … Free so that we can spend our extended Memorial Day Weekend hosting backyard barbecues in peace. Surrounded by friends and family and neighbors who will raise a toast to your … [Read more...]
I had every intention of calling in sick today. But it wasn’t going to be a real sick day. Because I’m not sick. I was going to give you the fake sick call-in … * Cough * Hellooooo …. That was going to be my opening. The fake cough followed by the gravely, drawn out hello. Spoken softly. Almost a whisper … * Cough * Another cough for good measure. … [Read more...]
Chalkboard paint. Do you love it? … or do you hate it? Are you sooooooooooo over all those chalkboard paint projects? Like you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a chalkboard painted flower pot ... or door ... or awesome chalkboard calendar made from and old window over it? Because you know what? At the risk of sounding so two-thousand-and-five, I’m … [Read more...]
I remember when ombre came into style the first time around. And I have to admit that it’s taken me some time to wrap my head around its comeback … I mean, who can blame me? I’m a product of the 70’s. The very same decade that is not known for its fashion or style highs. Just the lows. Lots and lots of lows in various hues of brown, orange, and apple green … * Shudder * So I … [Read more...]
I asked … … and you answered. All 70 of you ... * Wow * Seventy comments in the comments thread! Really? I’m shocked. I’m in awe. And, most importantly, I’m truly ~ and deeply ~ grateful! I wish I could hug each and every one of you. So here’s my virtual hug … And you were honest. Brutally so, just like I asked you to be … And while I … [Read more...]
… and happy Saturday! It’s been a long week, right? Felt like it would never end. And here in Chicago it was a week filled with highs (can you say 80+ degree weather) and lows (can you say minus 40 degree weather) … But the weekend has arrived. And we all survived. * Phew * And whether you’ve been dealing with deadlines at work, or crazy end-of-year kid schedules … [Read more...]
If you’ve hung around here for awhile, you know that I can’t be trusted with living things. Well, living things with roots. The kind that live in dirt. I’m okay with kids and pets. Both of which have managed to survive -- and even thrive -- in my care. But plants? Yeah, we don’t see eye-to-eye. All that needing water thing trips me up. So, I’ve had to resort to fake flora and … [Read more...]
It’s official. I’m in rehab. Well, my finger is in rehab. And, unlike Linsday, my finger didn’t get a reprieve before entering therapy. There was no last hurrah at Coachella. There was no late night television appearance. And there certainly weren’t any paparazzi following it around town … oh, and my finger’s rehab is doctor-ordered. Not court-ordered. And let me tell you, rehab is hard. … [Read more...]
It was just a matter of time, wasn’t it? What with all those mason jar projects I’ve been tackling as my surgered finger heals. It’s been a good run. Well, some of my loyal readers may think otherwise. You don’t fool me. I can hear your sarcasm dripping thick in the comment threads … I thought I had another brilliant mason jar idea up my sleeve: recreating one of my favorite … [Read more...]
There are times when I long for the days when my family was blissfully unaware of the blog … or,if not fully unaware, disinterested. Those were carefree times. When I could tool around the house arranging and rearranging pillows and accessories unnoticed. When I could set up craft projects on the dining room table and they would walk by without a second glance ... or heckling. But now? Now they’re … [Read more...]
Where were all the mason jars when I got married almost 19 years ago? Probably hidden behind pantry doors – or in the dark recesses of basements – being used as they were intended to be used. For canning. When my father walked me down the aisle so I could say my “I Do’s” to my beloved husband, those mason jars were busy working hard to keep those stewed tomatoes stewed … … and those pickled … [Read more...]
Hi there! My name is Linda and I’m a Jersey-born-and-bred Midwestern transplant who lives in Chicago with my husband and two children. We've lived in our home since 1995 and over the years our style has changed and evolved. I wouldn't call my home a work-in-progress -- more like a rework-in-progress as I refresh and remodel things around here ... one room at a time.
