Dreaming of a "Cottage Christmas"

Ive been playing in my studio with paper & fabrics 

creating cottage style goodies for Christmas and  getting ready for the 

Vintage Marketplace in Rainbow, CA this weekend. 

It is the prettiest flea in So. Cal!

Info is on my sidebar.

 These stockings are easy peasy! You can whip one up in less than 30 mins.

 I love the cottage appeal these fabrics have.

 I will have new stocking kits ready to ship for Tuesday the 6th.

 Here is a fun assortment of banners, tags & goodie bags that I'll be bringing also.

Hope you all have a wonderful creative day.

XO~

Gratitude

 ~A dare to LIVE FULLY right where you are~

I started reading this book last summer and I have to be honest with you, I didn't know what I was in for. You see I have this thing for birds' nests and I was smitten with the blue eggs on the cover shot.
"A dare to live fully right where you are" struck me. I'm up for a good dare if its meaningful and thought provoking.

So, game on!

As I began reading I was truly taken by author Ann Voskamp's ability to be candid. This type of laying one's self completely naked to be scrutinized comes at a high price.
Reading her work is like listening to a conversation she is having deep within her soul. Chewing on thoughts and ideas and being interrupted by the daily chores of farm life. Ann asks the hard questions that many of us ponder but never raise our hand and ask either because of fear or lack of faith. I was one of those that didnt ask the questions, I think it was because of fear.

"What in the world, in a world of certain loss, is GRACE"?  

 

Every time I turn on the t.v. I hear yet another tragedy reported. I have to admit it was stealing my joy, my peace and my passion. I was overwhelmed.

 

Then the most liberating thing happen on page 58 and I quote:

"Why would the world need more anger, more outrage? How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us? Rejecting joy to stand in solidarity with the suffering doesnt save the suffering. The converse does. The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world."

These words spoke so deeply to my heart I sobbed. We have to be the change we want to see in the world otherwise what is it all for and Im not willing to give in to it.

I began writing a list of 1,000 things to be thankful for. This is not just another exercise in list making. It will, I promise, change your life if you approach it with an open heart.

So on this Thanksgiving give yourself the gift of peace and gratitude and begin your list of 1,000 things you are thankful for.

I plan to reread the book every Thanksgiving and start a new list.

 Wishing you and your family all the hope, grace and peace of the season.

 XO~

Follow Your Path, Fearlessly!

In a world full of follow me, blinking signs, maps, click here, this way and endless self help books targeted at guiding you towards what is packaged as your dream,
it's important to step back and evaluate what  
YOUR PATH TRULY IS.
Not what someone else thinks it is. This is where self examination is of utmost importance to you and the nurturing of your soul.

Do you ever feel like you are standing on the edge waiting to
  take a step towards your dreams but are held back by 
doubt, worry, fear or even jealousy?

 I want to remind you that those things will suck the life out of your dreams. It will choke every bit of creativity out of you and leave you feeling empty.  
These beautiful dreams you have deep inside of you is what you were created for. There is no other you out there that can accomplish the things you want to do better than you. 

You MUST take the first step and follow your path. You may not know where the path will lead you and that's ok. That's a part of the beautiful journey you are on.

Each step will lead you further along and as you keep traveling along your path you will learn new things, acquire new skills, and add new tools that will help you reach your destination.

This is where you need to turn off the comparison mirror. Remember the evil queen from Snow White? How she looked in the comparison mirror?

DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO ANYONE!
What you don't see when you compare yourself to Miss So&So is what is going on on the inside. Everyone struggles, some harder than others. 
What shapes you is the ability to keep trying and not giving up because
Miss So & So did it first.
The truth is Miss So&So probably busted her butt, cried on the floor, ate a gallon of ice-cream and lost a lot of sleep on her way to creating that thing that is now her prized piece of work.

 If Miss So & So could give you her honest opinion she would hold your face in her hands and

look into your eyes and say, 

"Follow YOUR Dreams, Anything IS Possible".

Do not be afraid to follow your passion or march to the beat of your own drum.

This IS your life to make whatever you want out of it.

I am Miss So&So.

XO~

Comfort Food!

Grab 3 simple ingredients and in less than 1 hour you have a wonderful Fall dinner!

1 package of Stove Top Stuffing, I prefer the chicken flavor, 1 can Apple pie filling,

(is that a tootsie roll bag in the back? busted!)

 And pork chops!

Spread the pie filling in the bottom of a 13x9 pan. 

 Top with pork chops.

 Prepare stuffing (just mix with water & butter) and spread on top of chops.

 Cover with foil, bake @375* for 30 mins.Uncover and bake 10 more minutes.

The flavor of sweet apples complements the tangy & salty stuffing perfectly. 

This is a family favorite, even my 9 year old likes it!

XO~

Victorian Homes Feature

If you are a lover of the Victorian Era this magazine is for you. Packed with pictures of gorgeous homes, decorating ideas, tea recipes and inspiration.

So honored to be featured in "Victorian Homes' 50 Gorgeous Gifts Under $50"!

The Ruffled Elegance Ripped Ruffle Bib Apron for $44.00. Available in Sage or Cranberry, perfect for the cook, baker or hostess on your list. Why not indulge in one for yourself?

Available HERE.

Thank you Victorian Homes Magazine!
XO~

"How a child sees it"

I thought I'd share this with you. My youngest son put this

on my sewing table and it tugged at my heart!

I dont know where this toy bear came from and there was nothing special about it but it was loved for reasons I will never know. But to a little boy it is a priceless treasure.

Oh if we could embrace life with childlike 

wonder how differently we would see things.

XO~