Cottage dreams

I awoke this morning from a dream I’ve had many times before. It involved a quaint garden, crumbling stone walls and a kitschy interior.

 This cutie is close to the one in my dream. I wonder what lies beyond that adorable cottage door.

This charming look would do until I saw this beauty below, for sale and in my neck of the woods.

 I came across this little gem, for sale just three hours north of my house, on 2 acres and within walking distance to the beach. It was listed for under $80,000. The perfect little project which could become the ultimate summer house. It looked like my dream may come true. I couldn’t dial the phone fast enough but unfortunately it had been sold. My dream will have to stay a dream for now.

xo-jj

The Mad Tea Party in the secret garden blog event

Frolic…  Whimsy…  Magic…

Childhood comes and then it’s gone before we’ve had the chance to understand the magic and pure joy of living every day just for the sake of fun.

Just as soon as you fall under a childhood spell, it’s broken and grown up life begins. There are mountains to climb, bridges to build and households to maintain.

 

 

This story got started the day Gi Gi decided that something in her life was missing.  She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but  something was definitely wrong. 

The days of endless tea parties and playing dress-up were gone and 

her day dreams had all been forgotten.

 

She needed to find the piece of herself that had been  lost in the midst of living? Where could she go for help and who would understand?

 Suddenly she heard a voice…

“There is a place where dreams run wild and hope is free. Follow me to a far away land with magical spaces. This fanciful place can only be seen upon a return to the carefree mind of a child.”

 I must be brave, thought Gi Gi, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly before entering this secret garden of  magical characters and dreamy spaces.

 

She piered through the gate, while worries she might not fit in or be accepted filled her head with nonsense.

 

Don’t be afraid says little sister, Ra Ra we will enter the garden together, you and me. It’s time to forget the pressures of grown-up life and remember the days when you felt like a princess and your only worry was eating the icing before it melted. 

 

Gi Gi knew sissy was right so she checked her worries at the gate and entered the garden. This strange place of magic and whimsey filled her heart with pure joy.  For the first time since she could remember she was able to be herself , in this place where hearts were true and wishes granted. 

 This secret garden allowed both sisters to be themselves, to chase dreams, love unconditionally and wish til their heart’s content.

 Best of all, everyone in it was content to be themselves in a whimsical kind of way.

Nothing was too serious or uptight but fun-loving and free just like the days of her childhood.

The garden was full of surprises and laughter echoed from every direction.

Thank you, Dear Miss V, for providing a place where the cup is always full and our inner child runs free.

click on the image below to begin your journey to the enchanted land of A fanciful Twist and join this year’s fantastical blog party with  almost 300 participants.

 This festival of madness has shown us the way to a land of magical dreams and fairy tale wishes.

Take it from Gi Gi- life is meant to be lived authentically with joy and whimsy, surrounded by people who are free to dream and live their lives with hope for the future.

 Enter her secret garden and

live every day the way it was meant to be- joyfull!

 

 

There’s no place like blogland!

xo-jj

My inner gypsy

This room brings out my inner eclectic with it’s travel inspired finds that are drenched in rich color.    love,  love…

Found this at serena and lily

now off to work

xo-jj

Can you keep a secret?

The secret is almost out…

It’s time for the 3rd annual Mad tea party, join us this Saturday .

xo-jj

 

Grandpa’s are the Best!!!

 

 

Busy, busy day but I’ll be back later to visit my favorite cyber peeps later.

Happy Father’s Day!

xo-jj

Michigan Summer

Close your eyes, feel the grass between your toes, the breeze blowing through your hair, as a warm sun kisses your cheek. I’m enjoying the beautiful colors of summer and a steady breeze through my window-enough said…

xo-jj

Java June’s day off

I’m looking for a little inspiration before I paint my desk and decorative side table. I’m very inspired by the european feel of this room. It’s chic and finished but has  a rustic element that’s charming.  My decor is eclectically global, sometimes a little too eclectic. The pic above represents my more traditional side.

I can totally see myself in this room, Mr. Java not so much! I love every element in this room. What does that say about me- I don’t know. This pic represents my bold and rather impulsive side. 

This vintage shabby-chic look is also me. I’m not sure if I have a split personality or I’m just decoratively indecisive. This pic represents the homey, relaxed me.

 My office walls are red maple and my floor is indian slate (mixed earth tones), the curtains are off- white as well as the trim work. I’ve already refinished a little cottage dresser in creamy white with distressed blue details. This dresser fits the look above except for the fact that a buddha and indain goddess staue are perched on top. I’m having a little trougle defining my look. 

 I painted my antique chair that sits in the corner creamy white. A wrought iron dress form all decked out in pink sits on the back wall. I think I’ll use a creamy white to avoid udder chaos in the room. It’s not very adventurous but a little calm is in order, don’t ya think?

I have the day off  and the weather has been misty rain, comfortable temps but extremely high humidity, so gardening is out and indoor projects are in.

Have a lovely Monday.

xo-jj

Morning Zen

The magic of morning crept through my window and I came alive under her spell.

 

Fresh herbs growing on the potting table, patina pots and warm sunshine are my favorite parts of summer.

 

A little something, something I’m working on for my Etsy shop, little cards and envelopes made from a collage of  lovely images, professionally printed by Tiny Prints.

Wishing you a zenful day…

ox-jj

Pictorial meditation

 

Just finished my daily Yoga session. Feeling kind of spacey, no-words just a little pictorial meditation.

Enjoy!

xo-jj

Garden remodel

I’m looking to add a little color to my garden, turquoise perhaps.

Love love old pots with a great patina or chippy paint. This image from country living caught my eye.

This little green house would be the perfect place to spend my summer. I may be a city girl but my heart is stuck between the pages of a country living magazine.

We have had so much precipitation this year that a mini flood came through my garden during the last terenchal down pour.  So now I have to rebuild. The wood chips are gone and my flowers took a beating. The little play house/potting shed is wet but still standing.  The images from country living are a great inspiration.

Enjoy your day

xo-jj

Summer lovin’

Just a few reasons why I love summer…

What could be better than running through the sprinkler in  a pink bikini?

Playing in the rain.

Splashing in the water table.

Raindrops on roses.

Enjoy the sunshine!

xo-jj

Hippy chic

 

I leave a pair of garden boots on my porch, partly for looks but also for easy access. I wear them on dewy mornings and after a rain. I have on occasion wore them for a quick shopping trip. The princess leaves her boots right beside mine- I love that! 

I found myself in a hippy-chic kind of mood today and  spent the morning browsing my closet for just the right outfit to wear to work.

I love this image found on fashionista.com Wish I had that boho dress and  bright red shoes. It’s amazing what a fun and playful outfit can add to your day.

Add some fun to your day!

xo-jj

Believe in the magic

A flicker of inspiration is twinkling in my brain. It must be the gorgeous weather we’re having. Some say it’s too hot but I am at my best when the weather is hot, wearing nothing more than a tank top and shorts, no shoes, no sleeves, nothing to confine me.

I have a million pictures and dozens of quotes traveling through my brain as a quiet breeze blows through my window.

“believe in the magic and your dreams will follow”

xo-jj

Today’s cool hunt

I went on a little cool hunt this morning and found this…

A bedroom to die for. I love everything about it. If this was my bedroom I might never leave my bed. Okay your right I can’t sit still for more than 5 minutes but I’m just saying…

As the years pass I become more and more determined to own a cottage kitsch house. I love, love old architecture , mediterranean, country cottage,english cottage, french country, etc. We built a new house a little over six years ago and it is quite modern. The last few years I’ve been craving a little cottage with character. I don’t want to leave the beautiful setting I’m in, woods, meadow, pond, but the heart wants what the heart wants. That doesn’t mean it’s going to get, so for now I dream.

The pathway to this colorful cottage  sold me and the red door, well, let’s just say this would definately be an impulse buy. Good thing we’re only cyber shopping.

No new house for me just a cottage garden.

 

 

Join me in my garden of cottage dreams…

xo-jj

making love in the garden

 

Morning light graced my cheek, the clock read 6:15 and my body said no way as I slowly put one foot in front of the other in search of a steamy cup of coffee. My legs and back are sore from a weekend of pulling weeds and planting flowers. The pain is worth the feeling of accomplishment and the fact that the herb pots are once again alive with aromatic goodness makes me smile. There will be a few more mondays with sore muscles before my garden will flourish with love but I’m okay with that.

This day began in the mid-fifties but as I tip-toed across the dewy deck, admiring my work, I heard the weather man promise a high of eighty-five degrees before this day is done. I took a deep breath and another sip of hot coffee  as thoughts of bare feet and  long summer days in the garden crept in. 

xo-jj

Yes, you can

 

Someone once said,

“Your wings already exist.

All you have to do is fly.”

 

 

I’m soaring through the rain today

how about you?

xo-jj

A run through the garden

Had a great weekend up-north- came home to a garden full of surprises.

 Peony flowers are my fave and this yummy shade of red fades to a soft pink in the warm sun. Love, love…

 

Love the wispy stems that end with an explosion of pink. It doesn’t get much better than this…

 

 

chive, chive and more chives, they’ve taken over my garden with a vengeance. I love the fresh green stem topped with a bulging head filled with potential,  just waiting to explode.

This is the end of our tour and the start to a Monday full of potential.

BTW speaking of potential

she’s lovely and listed

 

 

xo-jj

Grandma’s attic

 

On my way home from work yesterday I felt a familiar calling. It whispered, more like nagged me to take a little diversion to a nearby town.  I pulled off the highway, drove through several stops lights, down a residential street, over the railroad tracks and into a little parking lot.  The sky was overcast and  grey after a full day of rain but no matter, the place I was going didn’t have any windows, just stuff, wall to wall stuff. 

A little town a few miles to the north-east of my home is over-run with tiny antique shops, where you can find almost anything your heart desires- if you’re willing to pay for it. I quite often go just to browse, live in the moment of yesterday and hope that something I can’t live without jumps out at me, for the right price, of course.

When I first entered the shop I didn’t feel anything , no nostalgia, no excitement, no lust. I thought this trip was going to be a bust so I turned toward the door in an attempt to make it home and have dinner made before my hubby arrived. I made it halfway before I was stopped dead in my tracks by a case of vintage jewels, my biggest weakness. It was then that I felt that feeling of nostalgia, want, lust. The memories of grandma and her dresser in the attic filled with sparkly brooches, vintage hats and scarves, things I covet today.

The sales girl came over and offered to open the case. I knew once she did that it was all over for me but that tiny voice that came from an eight year old girl dying to play with her grandma’s jewels said “yes please.” Well I guess there isn’t too much else to say except I love the cameo brooch, the millenary flowers and the salvaged rosary chain that I spent three hours assembling last night. It looks great and I think if I can find the strength to part with it I’ll put it up for sale in my Etsy shop next week.

Have a wonderful weekend. I’m headed up-north to hunt for moral mushrooms-yum!

xo-jj

A river of words

The light filtered through my window in such a way that I became engaged, motivated, no, compelled to capture it’s essence. One click and it was done, the color, the moment, the magic only lasted for a minute or two before the morning light took on another position. It morphed itself into something benign. 

If you wait long enough anything will change. It happens when you’re not looking, at night when you are fast asleep but sometimes the transformation takes place right in front of your eyes.

One of my roles in the family is peacemaker or it maybe better defined as channel master. I listen, I talk and then I defuse the situation. It’s not as simple as all that and it doesn’t work half the time but I always give it my best shot. I’m comfortable in that role most days except a day like today, when all I want is to be my own guide, my own channel master. To have time to listen to me and then quickly change the channel if I don’t like the feature presentation.

The act of writing/typing this on-line diary is a revelation for me. I start out on one subject and then quickly change to something entirely different.  It’s a great opportunity to reveal my inner most thoughts. What starts out as a quick post becomes a river of words which are the deepest aspect of who I am at this very moment. I’m so glad I have someone to share them with.

xo-jj

A bowl of bohemian soup makes an ordinary girl feel creative and complete

Yesterday morning I awoke to the sound of black birds squabbling over the last of the winter berries and a cupboard completely devoid of anything edible. No matter how much I detest a trip down the isles of  my local grocery store it’s impossible to put it off for even one more day.

I don’t check the cupboards, make lists or have even the vaguest idea of what is on the menu for the up-coming week when I set out on my shopping trip. I wander through the isles with everything but cooking on my mind. I look at the young woman pushing the cart in front of me and wonder. Does she walk like that because her jeans are too tight or does she have a genuine disability? Is that guy with the cart full of beer and cookies having a party or does he eat like that on a regular basis? I sniff the laundry detergent in an attempt to find something that doesn’t make my clothes smell like wilted flowers or some other offensive aroma. I look down at my cart and notice that so far I’ve managed to toss a tube of mascara and a bottle of advil into my cart, no fixins for dinner or anything remotely edible has come close to this four-wheeled basket that’s in desperate need of a front end alignment. 

After another hour or so of wandering through the isles, noticing the loose tiles on the floor and savoring the smell of freshly ground coffee beans, I do manage to secure a few items worthy of consumption. This mix in my basket doesn’t resemble anything that would make a meal but it inspires me to go home and create something warm and fresh with a little spice.

A carton of organic chicken broth set to boil, a cup or so of chipotle bisque, ( I never measure anything) a quarter  box of frozen corn-the kind with both white and yellow kernels, stir-fried chicken strips, dance in the pot for a few minutes before I add some brown rice and  a handful of spices.  It smells okay, earthy but not quite finished-the toppers are the best part. A handful of cilantro, a half dozen chips, a few slices of avacado-soft and creamy but not too ripe and a large spoonful of fresh salsa… whala, I have a bowlful of the most delisc bohemian soup ever-tasted,well at least I think so. 

It’s earthy, spicey and more importantly, edible. I don’t like to cook unless I can experiment with whatever ingredients sound good to me at the time. I know what I need to eat in order to feel good for the day but the whole idea of going to the store and figuring out what to buy is painful. If only I would have thought beyond last nights dinner and bought something for breakfast this morning, this rainy day- hovering  just above 40 degrees wouldn’t be so challenging to maneuver, maybe next shopping trip.  😉

xo-jj

Happy Mother’s Day

 

Happy Mother’s Day to all my girlfriends out there…

 love ya-jj

A reoccuring dream and a visit with old friends

 

Tonight I will be revisiting my past. A dozen or so girls from my graduating class are getting together for a night of laughter and reminiscing,  a few I haven’t seen in twenty years, others I run into on occasion. I can’t wait to listen, hug and giggle the night away. We reconnected on facebook and decided it was time for a face to face.

As a teen I couldn’t wait to get out of school and move on with my life and now after more than twenty years I can’t wait to go back to those years and visit the friends I left behind. It’s funny how that works. You are always looking for the next best thing but can’t wait to go back to the good old days. I’m sure this meet-up has something to do with the reason I have been so preoccupied about where I’ve gone with my life.

Thank you Shell and Seawitch for your words of wisdom.

When I first started junior high I used to dream about walking down the long halls lost and late for class. Last night I revisited that dream. It’s funny how certain things never leave you.

Tonight I will be toasting to old friends and I’ll probably realize that life hasn’t really changed all that much.

 clink, clink to old friends and new

xo-jj

A very ordinary girl now middle-aged woman who thinks extraordinary thoughts in no particuliar order

A very ordinary girl now middle-aged woman who thinks extraordinary thoughts in no particular order. I’m thinking this may become a new feature on my blog. Perhaps I’ll touch on it once a week or twice a month or maybe even every other post. I can’t be pinned down right now or get caught up in the details, I have too much to say. I may start at the beginning, at the end or maybe even in the middle because I do things like that

 I thought my life was going to turn out differently, after all I have a destiny, a mission, a niche, but I haven’t found it just yet.   I know it’s out there, lurking in the shadows just waiting for the right moment to happen.

I couldn’t wait to grow up and find my purpose, that niche, my something but I had to get married to my high school sweet-heart, have kids and purchase my first house before I could pursue my dreams. Those things were too important to let get away and they had to get done before I was too set in my ways to get married, too old to have kids and before I had spent most of my adult life in a rented apartment.

While raising kids I knew that my something was out there but I was too busy, too fulfilled and way too brain-dead to go looking for it. It would have to wait and wait and wait.

How long should one wait? Should I start looking? Actually I think I’ve been looking all along but no niche.   I’ve always thought that when I was ready it would just happen.  All I had to do was wish for it and the answer would become, loud and clear, a flash of light, an epiphany, happiness.

I use to dream of a life in the big city. This life  included my loving family, the perfect house, a little fame and a lot of money. All made possible by my thriving career. I had my whole life ahead of me and plenty of time to achieve everything I’d hoped for. It was going to happen. I could feel it. I just had to get through the next few years of raising my family before it could happen. I raised my family and now when I look back I know that those were the most fulfilling years of my life. Perhaps thats why I put off the dream, my wish.

As the years passed my dreams and wishes got a lot smaller and a little closer to home.

I once wished for a beautiful white cat to fill my house with cozy charm, to make it feel homey and full. I envisioned her sitting in the front window when I arrived home in the evening, waiting for my company.

I wished and a couple of months later he showed up. He was different from what I envisioned, his fur was short with tan patches and he was absent a tail. I welcomed him into my home anyway but he didn’t like the indoors. he preferred the porch to my cozy office.  So now when I arrive home I find him waiting  not on my window sil but waiting all the same. By the way he brought friends-I feed them too.

 I wished for more children and I got a grandchild. Grandchildren are God’s greatest work and I never tire of their company. I’m not your typical grandma. I don’t bake. I can barely cook and I wear jeans with holes in the knees.

A few years ago I wished for more time with my family and something happened at work that made it justified for me to quit. I never looked back because I was sure this was a sign and my special talents were about to emerge. That was two and a half years ago. I’ve tried on a few hats since then but nothing fits. Someone once said, “I think you just don’t like to work” not true. I just want to feel passionate about what I’m doing, be good at it and make a living while doing it. 

Not all my wishes come true. I’ve wished for something I enjoyed, loved, something I was really good at.  It had to be a career where I could make a living while doing it. Something all my own. Nothing happened. I’m afraid it may take a little work on my part to find it, patience and focus, things I’m not very good at. I have the attention span of a three-year old child after she has consumed an entire box of cookies, chocolate chip of course.

I’m not whinning and I’m certainly not ungrateful for all the wonderful things in my life. I’m just wondering if maybe I’m going about this quest for success and completion all wrong. Perhaps…

This is just me thinking out loud  🙂

xo-jj

My life would be perfect if…

Photo borrowed from myhomeideas.com

So here we are living, dreaming and sharing our experiences with one another. We all have our ups and downs in this quest for a perfect life. Sometimes we know what we want, sometimes we can fill in that blank- if… but sometimes it’s not so clear, you could say, it’s kind of a gray area. 

We could say things like- my life would be perfect if…

I had enough money to live it the way I wanted to,

if I had an awesome body, healthy and beautiful, that will never grow old,

if I  had a great job, that I loved,

If I had the time to do the things I wanted to do and had the  time to spend it with the people I wanted to be with instead of those who just happen to be in the same place at the same time.

Yesterday while driving home from work I listened to an interview with Meaghan Daun the author of  “My life would be perfect if I lived in that house”. It made me think about how I might complete the sentence- my life would be perfect if… but I really couldn’t come up with a viable option or the perfect line and then I thought… what is perfect and is that really what I want?  hmmm…

The following is an excerpt of this book… I like it!

Yesterday, a piece of my house came off in my hands. I don’t mean that metaphorically. I banged the garbage can against an outside wall, and a piece of stucco about the size of a sheet of paper came ever so slightly loose. When I touched it, it fell gently into my palm. It was as if the house were giving me a lock of its hair, or perhaps coughing up phlegm. I was concerned, but it also happened that I was really busy that day. I just couldn’t get into it with the stucco, not right then anyway. Also, I was coming up on my five-year anniversary of owning the house, and if there’s anything I’ve learned in five years, it’s this: if a piece of your house falls off and you don’t know what to do with it, throwing it in the trash and forgetting about it is a perfectly viable option. And it so happened that the trash can was right there. Once upon a time I would have made a beeline to the yellow pages to look up “stucco replacement,” but I’ve come a long way since then.

So has the house. I bought it in 2004, and as I write this, it’s supposedly worth $100,000 less than what I paid for it. By the time you read this, it will probably be worth even less than that. I try not to care because if I cared too much, or even thought about it too much, I’d go insane. I’ve spent enough time here being insane, believe me. I was insane when I bought the place, and I went even more insane afterward. Then again, the whole world was high a few years ago. The whole world, or at least the whole country, was buying real estate and melting it down to liquid form and then injecting it into veins. For my part, it’s tempting to say I succumbed to peer pressure, but it was really much more complicated than that. There is no object of desire quite like a house. Few things in this world are capable of eliciting such urgent, even painful, yearning. Few sentiments are at once as honest and as absurd as the one that moves us to declare: “Life would be perfect if I lived in that house.”

I’m writing this book in homage to that sentiment, which is to say I’m telling the story of a very imperfect life lived among very imperfect houses.

I, too, have had fantasies about the perfect house- a quaint little cottage surrounded by a garden of roses and other aromatic bloomers, the creamy white kitchen is old but still very functional, the wood floors creak with every step I take, but the windows open up to a panoramic view of  the sea. The smell of sea-spray and romantic flowers fills my breath as the breeze gently graces my cheek like the touch of a feather and this house, this view, this experience  makes my life seem,,, well… perfect!

 
My eyes are closed and my head is laying back in my chair, I can feel it- I’m there and it’s perfect…

xo-jj

Spring vignettes

Just wanted to share the spring vignettes I created, yesterday,  my day off.  Gosh I needed that, feeling recharged and refreshed.

 

 Hydrangea, green and pink, my fave

Lulu, the bust Mr. Java gave me for Christmas, is now dressed in her summer best with a shell necklace and crown that I created just for her.

 A closer look 

 

More collections, creations and books

 More of my shell collection

 

 Green plants in turquoise and terracotta pots with the perfect patina, bohemian scarf and more shells

 

Rustic, nature, and angelic treasures-love

 

Indoor pics with flash, not my fave but you get the idea. Just wanted to share my day of blissful decorating with you.

xo-jj

It’s my time

This image takes my breath away. It’s spring at it’s best and I borrowed it from the wedding pros on wordpress.

It’s Tuesday and I have the whole day to be whatever I choose, free, relaxed, inspired, or whatever else comes to pass. This is the first time in a long time with the whole day to devote to whatever I want.

I think I’ll begin my day with a deep breath or cool spring air… it smells like melted frost and newly emerging grass. I see green shoots poking their heads up through the forest floor. I hear busy birds chattering away as they gather material for their feathered nests. A splash down in the pond by a large Canadian goose breaks my concentration. It’s lovely and it’s mine to enjoy…

Enjoy your day!

xo-jj

Got a vintage itch I can’t scratch

I didn’t win the dress. The auction ended with it going for over $87.00, I couldn’t dig that deep. It was gorgeous but I wasn’t even sure it would fit. sigh…

 This time of year always puts me in the mood to go junktiquing, (sp???) I have a few haunts that I like to peruse for treasures.

 I don’t really have the time or the money to persue this hobby right now but if I did I’d be on the look out for something like this…

or maybe something like this…

I suddenly have the itch to paint all my wood furniture in a shabby chic kind of  way. But then there’s Mr. Java who hates shabby chic. I can see his head shaking right now, no, no, no.

 

A couple of years ago I talked him into helping me do this to an old dresser that I’d picked up at a garage sale. Not his style but I like it’s cottage charm. It stays in my office, which is very whimsical, well actually it’s a whimsical mess right now It needs an over-haul and a good cleaning.

That’s all for now back to real life. Take care and enjoy your weekend.

xo-jj

Things that inspire me, today

So feminine and  fabulous in a boho kind of way. As you know I love boho.  This dress is drop dead gorgeous and I must confess that I put a bid on it. Not sure it will fit me  but I think I could hang it on my closet door and be inspired,  no words except love , love!

Vintage fashion is so classy and inspiring.

Once again I’m in love with this look, the crisp white accented by those dramatic black beads. Found this image at junebug weddings, fabulous!

This little number from posh24 is so flirty and fun, let’s do lunch!

Drum roll, please, the most inspiring thing of the day is…

My little princess babies.  Ahhhh, okay I’m ready to start my day!

BTW the company, Stella & Dot, is launching a new jewelry line for little girls, it’s available April 26th.

 Won’t my baby girls look amazing in these? I can’t wait!

Oh and wish me luck on the bid for the dress.

xo-jj

Kitschy cool and cottage chic

image borrowed from telegraph.co.uk

This room is calling my name. This combo of cottage cute and collectable treasures speaks to me. I have always wanted a little cottage to decorate in a colorful shabby chic/country charm way. I would love a little cottage by the lake or ocean (even better) just so I could decorate in a  cottagey way. I’m in love!

this image borrowed from farm4.flickr.static

This room doesn’t say cottage but I can’t get over the fifties charm, so cool. My grandmother had the very same table with chairs in  chili pepper red. I could eat here.

image borrowed from web.mawebcenters.com

Oh what can I say… the rich color of the wooden planks, the slip covered furniture, the little pink frig, mint green table and that chandelier, Once again, I’m in love.

image borrowed from img4.myhomeideas.com

Love, love this cottage clean look, breakfast anyone? This room stirs up a hearty appetite for pancakes, eggs and sausage, mmm.

The following images are my shots of the kitschy cottage, by-the-sea, that I called home for one week.

 

This was my breezy living room looking onto a shell covered path to the beach, loved it!

 The perfect little dining nook with a view of the palm trees and screened in porch, complete with tiny geckos soaking up the sun.

 The guest bedroom was so darn cute, it’s a shame we didn’t have anyone to fill it.

I’m feeling a little cottage envy today, perhaps it’s because I’m off to work to help my customers pick out the perfect furniture and acessories for their cottage… sigh

Enjoy your day

xo-jj

I love the journey

This is the little chapel by the sea on Captiva. There is something so serene about this place- I love it.

My travels south started out with traffic jams and a grumpy hubby who said we are never taking our vacation by car again-back to the sky next year. The drive was my idea. It had been a long time since I traveled afar by car, we always fly to our destinations but I had this romantic idea of the open road and little kitschy places tucked away off the beaten path just waiting to be discovered by me.

You know that dream of mine… hopping in a hippie van and traveling the us with my camera and a journal, documenting every ounce of cool and kitschy I can find.

The cool and the kitschy were not along the expressway and I didn’t take many pics, didn’t even write one sentence in my journal. I’m not sure why, it just didn’t happen.

The ride home was a little different. We were forced to get off the beaten path when the expressway was nearly closed down due to the insane amount of people heading north after spring break and the snow birds heading back to Michigan. This was a good thing!

Although I didn’t get a chance to take any pictures or jot things down in my journal, (hubby was driving like a mad man in an attempt to get out of Florida and get away from the people he claimed didn’t know how to drive, I was hanging on for dear life) I did see some things that were amazing and kind of surreal. I saw tiny shacks and mini log cabins that looked like something out of the 1930’s. They were full of life, clothes hanging on the line, junk scattered across the yard, children playing  out front and one with an alligator hook hanging over the pond, baited and ready to catch sunday’s dinner. It was hard to believe we were still in Florida or the U.S. for that matter.

Since I didn’t get a chance to take pics at rapid speed,( hubby wasn’t stopping for anything at that point) I borrowed this image of a Florida shack from sxc.hu.

We passed tiny houses that looked like they hadn’t been changed or updated in 80 years or more. Just as I felt like we had entered a time warp, we would pass a modern gas station or car dealership, out in the middle of nowhere. It was interesting and kind of amazing too. This was the old Florida drive I remember taking as a child, very rural and charming. I guess one could feel sad when looking at the dilapidated places along the road but it just wasn’t like that. They were full of life and seemed to be a lifestyle that was lived on purpose, simpler and uncomplicated, or so it seemed, maybe this was just my romantic side believing that these people had chosen a life that imitated a simpler and happier time for them . I can’t believe how much lives differ from one area to another.

This trip was restful and refreshing but it stirred up that wander-lust inside me. I’m just itching to hop that hippie bus to destinations unknown, journal in hand, camera ready.

xo-jj

A sexy balcony and my deepest thoughts

I thought I was in Paris but it was just a sexy balcony in Nashville Tn.

I just returned from vacation, a quiet reprieve, a tiny ripple in the stillness of my life. It felt good but it also made me think a little about everything. Here’s what I know for sure…

You must go with the rhythm of life-let it flow.

Except the stillness in your life-it’s a starting point, your resting place- enjoy it.

equilibrium in your life is everything, learn to say no and when to say yes.

You probably already have everything you’re looking for-dig deeper.

If you could string as many moments of joy as closely together as possible then your life would be almost perfect.

love yourself

I had a great time on vacation. I didn’t find all the answers or solve the world’s problems but I did come home with fond memories and a glowing tan. I guess I can’t ask for too much more than that.

My little bungalow by the beach.

Enjoy your day… xo-jj

Island girl

My bags aren’t packed and I haven’t done a thing to get ready but that won’t stop Mr. Java and I from jumping in the car and heading south shortly after sunrise, tomorrow. In the past I’ve been very organized. I started packing well in advance, even kept a check list. This year is a bit different, more laid back and nonchalant.  Which is totally fitting for the subtropical paradise we’re headed to. Captiva island is a bustling island covered in cottages and tropical foliage. The image above is a view of Laika lane just outside my cottage door. This year we downsized to a smaller place a few steps closer to the beach.  I can’t wait to take a stroll down this shell covered path to the beach. 

I’ll return to Michigan and my blog in about two weeks. Happy Easter and cheers to a beautiful spring!

xo-jj

this image was borrowed from ccambridge.org

Quickie in Chicago

This image was borrowed from a flicker friend

The last few weeks have been fast and furious,no time to savour or reflect on anything. I’m getting ready to embark on my yearly spring break in just a few days and I’m overwhelmed with must do’s before I go. Even so I had to make good on a promise I made to a little girl (the princess) that I would take her to the Chicago American Girl store to spend  her Christmas money. So on Sunday I did just that. Packed up the car with mommy princess, baby princess, grammy princess and great-grammy princess. We left very early morning and returned very, very late at night.  It was a long way to go for just a few hours of fun but totally worth it.

She was so exited and over whelmed at first it was fun to watch. Even at the young age of two princess Giselle is addicted to dolls, jewels and all things girlie.  The cutest part of the whole day was when we entered the bitty-baby room and she let out a gasp and then grabbed her doll and said look…. your friends. It almost made me cry and definitely made the trip worth while. The store is amazing at three stories tall. It’s also exhausting.

Lanie the doll of the year was Giselle’s pick-she’s adorable.

We didn’t make many other stops except my fave store- Anthrolpologie- love it like no other.  As I entered the store my heart raced and my palms got sweaty. I looked, I drooled and I dreamed but I didn’t spend. I’m so proud of myself. This trip was for the princess and besides I have no funds to spend with vacation just 3 days away.

Now if I can only smooth the bags under my eyes and guzzle enough coffee to get my butt out of this chair and off to work… Need sleepy and a comfy pair of shoes to get me through this day!

Happy Monday

xo-jj

Vintage inspired

There is something so special and  romantic about vintage  fashion. I have long been a fan and collector of  vintage jewelry and I admire vintage hats. But this little beauty takes my breath away. It’s so elegant and timeless. Oh and the scarf-very sexy.

 This years big hunt for the perfect swim suit ended a few weeks ago before I saw this.

I would pair this suit up with a beachy necklace it’s vintage inspired, from Stella & Dot

 I like the suit I choose but if I had seen this one first there wouldn’t have been  a dilema- no contest this suit was perfect.

Until I saw this one…

I love, love the flirty little skirt and the ruffles on the top, it’s so me. This suit doesn’t require a necklace but a silk wrap with silver charms from Stella & Dot would be the  perfect companion.

This pic is hard to see. It’s is my daughters wrist with 2 wraps, one for each baby girl, birth stones, letter charms and hearts to represent her love for them- it’s awesome.

 Unfortunately I discovered these suits a bit too late. My Garnet Hill catalog didn’t arrive until a couple days ago. Oh well I’ll keep them in mind for next year.

This is what I’m wearing today, the necklace on the left. I love the new Palm Beach line- it leaves me inspired.

Enjoy your day….

xo-jj

Center stage

 

Do you ever stop to think about how small your focus is and how at times you live in a tiny bubble, you only see what is important to you at that very moment. Our thoughts are immediate and at the center of everything. It’s hard to imagine that our issues are just a passing thought to others. I sometimes forget that the feature playing, center stage in my life, may not be so important to others.  Everyone has there very own feature presentation playing on a unique stage and all at the same time.

It’s important to share your life/stage with others while celebrating their individual focus/ issues as well.  Our lives are running simultaneously, sometimes our roles collide and intertwine with friends ,family and co-workers but most often we remain totally separate and alone.

I had a conversation with a co-worker yesterday about a friend of theirs who gets fixated on things in her life and can’t see anything or anyone else around her, she doesn’t realize that her issues are not center stage or important to everyone. This conversation made me think about a girl I know who may at times be guilty of same but she’s working on it.

My trunk show went well. I admit that I expected so much more but then I always do. I am trying to learn to enjoy each moment and every little triumph. I want to learn to accept and appreciate the little things and to respect each and every center stage even if my place/role is only in the audience/background.

I’m so glad you are a part of my stage and I yours.

Happy Tuesday…

xo-jj

Hippity Hoppity

Looks like the Easter Bunny is on her way… Can you believe that princess number 2 is six months old? Where does the time go? They grow up way too fast! It’s almost spring… enjoy it!

Love, love this hippy, hippy chic look . I love boho and I wear it often. My premier trunk show/open house is this weekend. I wish you all lived a little closer so you could join in on a little fashionable fun. Wish me luck….

xo-jj

What’s your secret to pretty feet

this pic was borrowed from prettybychoicefiles on wordpress

Spring is whispering softly from afar which means soon very soon my feet will be bare every chance they get. I love love to run around in bare feet or nearly bare, a pair of flip-flops or strappy sandals are heaven after a long winter of wool socks and barely breathable boots. With that being said there is one minor detail to consider. I think you know what I’m going to say.

It’s this image from womenshealthmag vs. that image from about beauty

You didn’t think I was going to post a pic of my feet did you? Well not until I get them all pretty which may take a week or two.

I’ll be bare-footen through the garden in no-time, 6 weeks, tops.

So here is where I need your help. Tell me your secret to pretty feet. What do you use, how do you do it and how long does it take to work. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say…

xo-jj

Beachy

This image was borrowed form a flicker friend

In less than 3 weeks I will be headed for the sand and surf of Captiva island. I’m usually more prepared by now but for some reason, this year, I feel a little more laid back about the whole thing and a lot more unorganized. Just this week the panick of what to wear on the beach set in. Last year’s swimsuit just isn’t going to cut it 😦  So I began the painful process of looking for the perfect suit, stylish, doesn’t scream middle-aged woman but it doesn’t let it all hang out either. I would love to find a suit, try it on, have it fit and just cash and carry.But that almost never happens, instead I always turn to my old stand-by for beach wear, Victoria’s Secret. My suit is ordered and my fingers are crossed, hoping the fit is right.

Click here to see what I’ll be wearing. If I looked like the model in the pic I’d be wearing a swim suit all day long, well maybe not in Michigan…frostbite!

Spring is slowly coming around the corner, I can feel it, ahhhh!

Enjoy your weekend…

xo-jj

The land of blog

Find the seed at the bottom of your heart

and bring forth a beautiful flower

-shigenori kameoka

Yesterday I attended an all day training for women in politics. It was designed to prepare women to run for office.  I attended to get a better understanding of politics as I am working on a campaign to elect my girlfriend to the house of representatives.  I enjoyed the conference and learned so much more than I had ever anticipated. So much of it could be applied to every day life and business but there was one thing I totally disagreed with. The presenter asked if anyone had a blog, mine was the only hand waving proudly in the air, 50 or so women. I was told it was detrimental to my character and a complete waste of my time. Well obviously she has never experienced the true friendships and undying support shared in blogland.

I understand that if you’re running for office, which I am not, you have to be careful about what you put out in print and every waking moment is focussed on how to get yourself elected but there is something very special here that I would have difficulty leaving behind.

It is in that spirit that I posted the quote above. The land of blog and all of you have allowed a tiny seed deep down in my heart to emerge and blossom into something extraordinary and I thank you for that!

xo-jj

plant the seed, boho girl

The mantra above describes me to a certain extent especially the part about embracing my spirituality, aspiring to my dreams and living through my passions. The unmoveable, unshakeable, unstoppable part I’m still working on.

I’ve tried to live my life in a way that suits me. I’m becoming more environmentally conscious, even my decorating is going green. Living in a healthy way and eliminating stress by spending time in nature and with my lovies.

 

 

I’m trying to reuse and repurpose where I can, as in my latest decorating project of recycled magazine pages and vintage jewelry. 

I came across the mantra above in the eco-friendly Boho Magazine It supports the notion of living green and being true to one’s self-I love that. I need another magazine subscription like I need another hole in my head but this one is different, it inspires me to keep going and do better-I need that.

It’s so important right now to think globally but buy locally. We should embrace the world like never before but  remain loyal by supporting our neighbors.

 I’m digging deep on a friday with a little food for thought. Are you a boho girl or guy?

xo-jj

Decorate your nest

I’m loving all the bird decor for spring and I thought I’d share a few with you.

I love this sweet little bird cage by Tamar at Nest Decorating. It’s so colorful and Anthropologie-like.

This little painting was done by Angie over at paintingchic. I won the OWOH drawing for this fellow and he know stes on a shrlf in my entry-love him!

What a sweet necklace by floridity an etsy seller.

This is how we do it at Pottery Barn. The store is abloom with spring. I’ve been able to nurture my spring fever while working.

Wore this little piece of spring, yesterday. Love….. 

I noticed just yesterday the birds are beginning to chatter again, feels like spring!

xo-jj

The love list

A little eye candy for a marvelous monday

love, love this turquoise turret pot from Anthropologie

A cozy little cottage for your feathered friends

Cute little sweater for spring, Anthropologie of course

Alice in Wonderland comes to theaters on friday, ohhh, I can’t wait!

Have a marvelous monday filled with  dreamy thoughts…

love, love… jj

I’m waiting…

Pristine white, quiet, crisp and cold, the stillness of a winter’s storm brings solitude and a restful sleep. But soon that slumber will be interrupted by the warmth of the sun and the emergence of tiny green shoots giving birth to spring. I can hardly wait to dig in the dirt, run barefoot through the garden and display freshly cut flowers on my table. I love the business of birds gathering twigs for their nest. I can’t wait to see something other than white outside my window. I want to feel warmth of the morning sun on my face, go for a walk, shed protective layers of wool and forgo the zippers that shield me from the cold.

 

I remind myself daily that it won’t be long before there are flowers just beyound my door and an afternoon outside will bring sweat to my brow. I’m eagerly waiting…

image borrowed from wedding pros on wordpress

The softness of a delicate blossom, the sight of newly emerged shoots in a most vibrant shade of green makes the long wait worth while.

sigh…

love, jj

got shovel-check, got mittens- check, gone crazy-check, check

Pink, Pink and more Pink!

It’s a winter wonderland out there today, nothing but white, cold, not a car in sight. So what’s a winter-hating, cabin feverish girl to do? Day dream… pretend, drool and indulge in a little color therapy. I think I could live in Betsy Johnson’s world of pink heaven.  Could you? I love the quirky fashions she creates and I’m envious of her beautiful penthouse and very bold choice of color.  Do you ever wonder what drives a person like her, how do they step out of the ordinary, get noticed and become an icon.

The dogs are in a hibernative sleep and the cat keeps looking at me, out the window and then back at me, as if to say, do something would you.  His faint meow is filled with desperation on the verge of insanity. Get in line Ricky-bobby!

This is the perfect day to get caught up on indoor chores and office organizing, oh sure, perfect for someone who doen’t lack discipline and motivation for such things. This girl is feeling non-productive and she certainly can’t bear another day of incarceration,  instead she’ll hop into her tiny, little sports car with 2″ tires and run a few errands. What would Betsy do? If she (me) makes her way through the seven plus inches of snow she will be sure to be first in line at the post office and most likely the only one waiting for a hot cup of mocha, tall, non-fat and no whip, please.

Wish me luck, I better throw in the shovel. he he…

xo-jj

PS: All my love to our friend Renee and her family!

Happy Friday

{what I love} I love to get together with my  friends and throw a great party, my beautiful children and grand children, sunny days, corona’s w/lime, coconut lotion, my family & friends, a hot cup of mocha, browsing Anthropologie, walking on the beach with Mr. Java and just enjoying life. Oh and one more thing…  big, bold beautiful jewelry…

I love this vintage look made fresh and new, the colors, the style- it’s me!

Be still my heart, I want , I want…

Super fresh and sweet

So cute for spring, I can’t wait for spring!

This makes me think of the perfect June wedding.

 

I love it all !!!

Enjoy your weekend

xo-jj

Milo and the peculiar princess

After enduring many days of blowing snow and frigid temperatures Milo’s visit to the crazy kingdom of this and that began to improve. A fabulous party was under way and he was the guest of honor.  He danced, he ate, he laughed and then the moment he had been waiting for came to pass. It was time to meet the peculiar Princess Giselle and her wee under study Fabulous Fairah. He graciously offered his hat to the princess as she inspected his dapper attire. The giggling, the kissing the sugary snacks, it was almost too much for a bug who had spent the better part of his life in Debra’s closet.

Milo with the peculiar princess of  peppermint peak

Milo with Fabulous Fairah, a princess in training

Alas it is time for this traveling bug to head on down the road for a visit to Linda at Lime in the Coconut. His journey will begin after a wee winters nap.

Thanks Debra for sending Milo on this world tour. He will be on his way in a few days.

xo-jj

A secret love note and a box of chocolates…

I’m thinking of romantic adventures, like a drive to a little cozy cabin in the woods with a roaring fire and bottle of wine for two, poured and waiting, or a walk on the beach that leads to a lonely bottle washed up from the sea with a secret love letter tucked deep inside, just maybe a quiet walk through the snowy woods to discover a twig nest and tiny rock with the words be mine painted in red.

I love all three scenarios above but I think MR. Java and I will settle for a cozy dinner, romantic movie “The Holiday” with Cameron Diaz comes to mind, a glass of wine and a lovely box of chocolates. Just one more thing to add to this plan, my hunt for the perfect nest to tuck a little message into. After I find a cute little nest, I’ll make a trip to the store for a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine but most important is the bag of candy hearts. I’ll pick the perfect message and place it just so on a piece of green moss, then I’ll tuck this love nest in a brown paper box and carefully wrap it in red velvet ribbon.

The perfect compromise to my big Romantic adventure? maybe. The hardest part will be bundling up and venturing out through a foot of snow in search of the ultimate nest but I can’t wait!

Tell me your Valentine secrets….

Happy Valentines Day!!!   I wish you love!

ps. I will draw the winner of the peace necklace for OWOH on sunday night and post the name sometime Monday.

xo-jj

Snow Day

 

 

Saturday afternoon a cute little package arrived on my door step, covered with curious stickers and a beautiful label addressed to me. To me? Yes, to me!  Well you know how I love surprises, so I’m sure you can just imagine my excitement.  Inside the box was a few fanciful goodies from the fabulously famous MS. V and the cutest little bug I’ve ever seen. I’m not a fan of bugs but this guy is sweet as far as bugs go.

Milo the infamous millennium bug from our fun and fabulous friend Deborah was finally here for his visit to Michigan, as part of his world tour. Well right away his appointment calendar began to fill with tea parties and play dates. Today was to be his big debut with the princess and her under study, princess number 2 but a terrible snow storm blew in and wiped his calendar clean. The poor fellow ran out and threw himself into a snow bank. His photo shoot and fun is postponed for a day or two.

I hope he likes the snow because I plan to send it all home with him when he leaves. They’re predicting 12 to 18 inches before this storm is over. I sure hope Deborah’s lawn boy knows how to use a shovel!

xo-jj

Go with the flow

 

Sometimes I feel deeply connected in a way that is hard to describe. It’s a good feeling providing I don’t fight it or think too much.  This is the time to just go with the flow and enjoy where it takes me. It’s the kind of day when I relish a little alone time to appreciate my life.

I started my day with a new kind of workout. It’s a yoga practice that is a little different,  full of dynamic energy and hip music. I’ve practiced Hatha yoga on and off for years but more recently I discovered a new form of practice and I love it.

I discovered Kundalini yoga by Ana Brett and Ravi Singh. This dynamic duo has taken an ancient and fairly sobering practice of yoga and given it a bit of a twist with big breath of fresh air, new age style. I love the way yoga makes me feel but get very bored with the same old stuff. So I peruse the Fit TV channel from time to time for new workouts. I tried Ana and Ravi’s 16 minute beginning yoga workout and I”m hooked. I fell in love with the up-beat music and felt inspired when the workout was over.  I can’t wait to get the 2 dvd’s I ordered. If you’re intrigued to learn more check out the Ravi Ana store.

I had a little visitor show up at my door this weekend, stay tuned for more details on that.

Enjoy your day!

xo-jj

Notes to myself

You don’t have to be all things, all-knowing, or perfect.

What if you are just you, your true self, flaws and all.

It’s okay if you’re not good at everything.

It’s okay to be yourself.

No one cares if your outfit is a little mismatched, a bit wrinkled, or tired.

You’re supposed to look older and have a gray hair or two.

The only thing expected of you, is you, your true self, the person living on the inside.

Your job is to just be and nothing else.

Let it happen.

Do you ever wonder why we expect so much of ourselves and why we can’t get over the fact that we aren’t everything we want to be or everything someone else wants us to be? Can you live with yourself as is, without regret? It’s hard but I’m realizing  just how important it is and trying my dammedest to do it.

A while back I talked about the book A Sea of Whispers that I self-published. After receiving my copies, I gave them out as Christmas gifts to my family. I mentioned in a previous post, offering this book in my Etsy shop sometime in the future. That future isn’t today. It still might happen.  I’ve realized that it’s not important to share what I think or feel with the world but to offer something that captures your thoughts and views. I’d like to merge this book into a journal that records your self- discovery and journey through life. A place where you can record your thoughts without being censored. A place where you are free to be your authentic self. This idea gives me something to work on. I plan to talk to the company that published my book and see what we could offer at an affordable price.

We are all on a journey and have a story to tell and that’s important. I have to say my journey would not be the same without each one of you. It’s funny that it’s so easy to share myself with people I’ve never met. Perhaps it’s because we have a certain need or connection that bonds us so tightly. Or maybe we feel comfortable because we never have to meet face to face. It’s kind of like having an imaginary friend. The fact that you are very real sometimes overwhelms me. I can’t believe I have shared so much of myself with all of you.

Thank you for listening and just being there when I needed to share. You’ll never know how much it’s meant to me.

xo-junie