White Weekend...

I have been seeing lots and lots of white all over "blogland," and I love it!!! Makes my heart skip a beat when I see so much white goodness...

I thought I would share some of the pictures that I keep as inspiration when I'm in need of a dose of white loveliness...

{countryliving.com}

{landstil.com}

{betterhomesandgardens.com}

Love, love, love this linen chair and burlap slip covered ottoman... seriously isn't this perfection?

{countryliving.com}

{marthastewart.com}

An all white chandelier...okay I have to give this one the ever popular *sigh*

{landstil.com}

Can you imagine this on your front porch?...all curvy and white and amazing (okay, I admit, not very practical though)

{betterhomesandgardens.com}

{countryliving.com}

Ahh, white painted floors plus dreamy bed equals heaven...

{goodhousekeeping.com}

And last, but not lease, my favorite...white, Scandinavian style

{betterhomesandgardens.com}

I'm off to the flea market this weekend and I hope to have some fun pictures to share with you on Monday. Hope everyone has a really wonderful, relaxing weekend!

Tracey

Barn Love...

No I'm not talking about Barnhouse, although, love those guys too! I'm talking about actual barns...

You see, one of the things I love about living in the Midwest, is the fact that there are these beautiful, old barns everywhere...

Often tucked in amongst the new construction homes and modern amenities of a busy community. Sometimes, seemingly all but forgotten...

All of these barns are minutes from my house...and no, I don't live in the middle of a corn field!

They are, what I think, to be a special part of living here in Illinois. I have often secretly dreamed of having property with a barn of my own...but I wouldn't use it for chickens or farm equipment...I'd use it to throw a good old-fashioned party! Maybe something like this...

{party photos from Country Living and Southern Living}

I guess for now I'll keep dreaming about my own barn, all the while appreciating the ones around me...

Tracey

My Sunday afternoon...

I was in need of a little time to myself yesterday (all week with 3 little ones will do that to you), so I decided to take a stroll through the art fair in nearby Geneva, IL. My afternoon started, as is customary, with one of these...

Then it was time to check out the art and the lovely shops. I thought I would share a few pictures from an interesting store that just opened, after relocating and going through renovations...Artemisia was a unique mix of antiques from around the world. The vibe was somewhat industrial, with lots of wood, iron, and statuary. Not all of it was my style, but I found it quite interesting anyway (the lighting was a bit funky in some of the rooms, so bare with me).

There were some very beautiful religious inspired pieces of jewelry and I am in love with the cuff bracelet above! I guess I'll have to start saving my pennies!! (my husband would tell me to give up my daily latte, but that's just not going to happen).

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend...

Tracey

Come stroll through my garden...

"What a beautiful, sunny morning. It makes you happy to be alive,
doesn't it? We can't let the sun outshine us! We have to beam,
too" -Takayuki Ikkaku

Gardening is one of those things that just makes me happy. I wish I had more time to do it, but right now life is just too busy to spend all day in the garden, maybe some day...

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tracey

A talented friend plus a huge giveaway!

Jeanne over at A Bushel and a Peck is having a HUGE giveaway for her one year anniversary! I read Jeanne's blog on a regular basis and really enjoy the warmth and humor that always comes through in her posts. She also has an amazing sense of fashion and, to top it off, is incredibly talented. Just take a look at some of her beautiful items...

I have bought quite a few items of Jeanne's over the last year or so, and when I started to think about it, I came up with the following: 4 frames, 3 Letters, 1 set of magnets, 1 purse, 4 journals, and 1 plaque. Wow, I think I might just be obsessed with Jeanne's products! Oh well, a girl can't help herself when everything is just so amazing!!

Now go over and sign up for the giveaway...

Happy one year anniversary Jeanne!

Tracey

Things I Love...Part I

As promised, I am practicing, practicing, practicing with my new camera. So, I thought it would be fun to take some pics around the house of the things that I love. You know, those "little" things that make your heart go pitter patter...


Skeleton Keys

I happen to mention one day to my father-in-law that I liked old keys, particularly skeleton keys. After disappearing to the basement for a few minutes, he returned with 2 very large metal rings with plenty of rusty skeleton keys dangling from them. My eyes widened, then he asked if I would like to have them. Are you kidding me?...heck ya I want them! When I got home I counted them, and there were 85!!!

Old Birdcages

This one sits out in my garden...

Vintage Buttons

Yes in deed, these are thanks to the in-laws again (let me tell you girls, you would have a field day in that basement of theirs)...

Vintage Jewelry

Sweet little pendant. There will be more to come in this category, I have no doubt...

Old Script

I love anything with old script - letters, postcards, you name it. I just think it is so beautiful...

Now, what are some of the things you love?...

Tracey

And the baby turns 2...

On Friday, my youngest angel turned 2. Poor little thing didn't get a party, or even a cake. Life has been a little crazy around our house, as my father-in-law is fighting colon cancer and wound up back in the hospital last week. So, with all of the back-and-forth to the hospital, my sweet baby didn't get much of a fuss on her birthday.



...in honor of Caighton turning 2, I thought I would try and snap a few shots of her and share them with you. Pinning a VERY active toddler down for a picture is a challenge, to say the least. Fortunately, I was able to catch a few decent ones...

Happy 2nd birthday Caighton!!!





Tracey

Is Anyone Out There?

Well, here I am...my very first post, and that is exactly what is running through my mind...

Is anyone out there?...

It feels a little funny "chatting" with no one. I'm not quite sure what to expect from this blog. Maybe I'll find a few readers, maybe I'll make a few new friends, and maybe, just maybe, I'll find that keeping a journal isn't so bad after all. What I do know for certain, is that I am ready to start "chatting" with someone other than a 2 year old, a 4 year old, and a 7 year old.

For now, you'll have to excuse my photography skills, as I am just getting started with my new camera (yipee). I promise to keep practicing. So I'll leave you with a few pictures from our very recent trip to Lake Geneva...where my darling husband told me I had become "a camera nerd."

(my littlest troublemaker, I mean angel, is missing from these photos, as we left her at home with grandma and grandpa)

Oh, and I can not sign off with out an enormous thank you to Sara for the beautiful job she did designing my blog and upcoming website. You are such a pleasure to work with Sara, and one of the most talented people I know. A million thanks!!!




Tracey