A weekly collection of ideas, tips and inspiration.
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Random Thoughts
1 – I am one HAPPY girl! It has been absolutely gorgeous the last few days with the highs reaching 56 degrees today. We’ll switch back to rain for a few days, but the forecast shows the high 50s for the end of the month. That’s practically a heatwave up here in the Pacific Northwest.
And that means gardening! Yay! I am spending the entire day out there today.
2 – Guess whose cottage garden is in the Better Homes & Garden’s Cottage Style Spring/Summer issue that just came out? MY GARDEN! I just bought the online issue and I can’t believe the features in this issue. I am so incredibly proud to be a part of this magazine and had so much fun with photographer Jay Wilde. I hope you get a chance to read it!
3 – I’m joining 11 bloggers today for A Lifestyle of Love blog hop, where we take a specific theme every other month and share how we use it in our homes and lives. This month is all about dishware and I’m sharing my Desert Rose dishware that I recently found at an antique mall.
4 – I shared a chore list of what I’m doing in the garden this month. HERE’s the post. And here’s another post, where I repurposed a vintage window by creating a cabinet.
5 – Do you ever wonder where all your single socks and earrings go? I tried to find a pair of earrings the other day, and couldn’t find a matching pair.
6 – Did you know that I got my first job when I was in high school, and I was only supposed to work during the first weekend of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale? My really important job was to pull a portion of the price tag and give it to the cashier, wrap the customer’s purchases in tissue paper, put it in the bag, and hand it to the customer.
That one weekend ended up lasting 12 years with many different positions and moves. My first buying job for the company was in Anchorage, AK. I arrived on a frosty February evening with a lightweight jacket and rain boots. You see, when they asked if I would take the position, I only had two days to move and never did any research on the winters in Alaska.
I’m not much of a cold weather person, so I was elated when they promoted me to the L.A. region 8 month later!
7 – Have you bought your spring candles from Antique Candle Co. yet?
- Grapefruit is a bright scent of sugared pink grapefruit and vibrant citrus zest
- Lemon Eucalyptus is a fresh aroma of bright lemon, sweet orange, and eucalyptus
8 – Congratulations to Sharon H. who won a signed copy of the new Floret Flower Farm book Discovering Dahlias. I know she will love her copy just as much as I love mine.
My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web From Last Week…
Courtney at French Country Cottage shares 10 ways to spread spring sunshine to your home in just a few minutes.
Lucy of Craftberry Bush has one of the most inspirational blogs I have ever seen. If you’ve never experienced it, you will need to go visit her immediately! Can you believe these Watercolored Flowers Handpainted Easter Eggs?
When I see a blog post title that says there are EXTRA FLOWERS in a spring home tour, I have to feature it. Go give my friend KariAnne at Thistlewood Farms some love!
More Inspiration…
Some robin egg inspiration.
The most gorgeous bedroom.
Decorating a spring kitchen.
This crockpot Irish beef stew recipe.
Easter brunch recipe ideas.
How to freshen up a porch for spring.
5 ways to decorate a plate rack.
Tips for sowing seeds indoors.
Gorgeous spring dining rooms.
In Case You Missed It…
My Cottage Garden Year in Review
Here’s some garden inspiration and a sneak peak of what’s yet to come.
I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment and let me know what you’d like to see on the blog! Thank you for being here. It means the world.
Enjoy your weekend,
A great read as always! A magazine feature! Congratulations! You and your garden are definitely worthy! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you, my friend! It’s so fun to see my garden shot by a different person other than me.
Congrats on the magazine feature! I can’t wait to see the spread!!! And thank you for including me this week!!!
Thank you, Stacy. I remember last summer, trying to get ready for the photoshoot. Jay came to take pictures on the hottest day of the year, in the 90s (that’s exceptionally hot for us). And we were trying to get 2 pictures of cut flowers in a vessel and they were wilting by the minute. The good news is that they both made it into the magazine!
Congratulations on the magazine feature!
Cindy
Thank you so much CIndy!
Congratulations on your feature, Kim! I’m going to buy my issue now as well! Can’t wait to get it!
Thank you, Sharon! I love your website. It’s so pretty! I think I may need one of your candle wick cutters.
Kim, I loved learning more about you this week. I can’t wait to see your feature in the magazine! So fun.
Thanks for sharing my post as always.
Thank you, Rachel! I just bought the online issue. There are so many gorgeous features in the magazine. One of my favorite issues, So proud to be a part of it.
My friend, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is so very exciting, and now I can say… hey my friend is in a magazine and I know her! Your place is absolutely stunning and I know you’ve worked hard to get here! Big hugs to you friend!
Thank you, Chas. I was really excited when I went online and saw it yesterday.
Kim congratulations on your magazine feature! I am so happy for you and can’t wait to see your garden again this year! Have a wonderful weekend my friend!
Thank you so much, Kelly! I am so happy that spring is finally here!
A nice post! I am always a sucker for a pooch in the photos. Such a sweetheart. Love the desert rose dishes. In the 1960’s a lovely couple was very kind to me, these were always on her table, so nice to see them. Beautiful where you are. Our weather has been nice but this weekend we are preparing for a “100 year” snow forecast in Boulder. yikes! Springtime in the Rockies. 😦 Nordstrom, one of my favorites. Love the free shipping and returns, makes me very loyal.
Thank you, Jillian, I’m so glad you liked the post. Nordstrom was the most wonderful employer when I was there, and the most amazing family as well. Good luck to you on the big snow. Stay safe and warm!
Congratulations on the magazine feature, Kim! Can’t wait to see it! You must have done a really good job pulling off the price tag and wrapping the purchase in tissue paper if that job turned into a career!
It was SUCH an important job Molly! I felt so honored to be asked to do it!