Monthly Archives: December 2016

A Year In The Life – 2016

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Marcia Ren

  “We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives. ..not looking for flaws, but for potential.” ~Ellen Goodman I had posted this as a goal for 2016. If 2016 has taught me anything it has been to enjoy the process & not so much on the end result. As I reflect back on the last 12 months  ( I started by reading this post) A peek at 2015  … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living | Tagged , | 6 Comments

This Christmas. …♡

Posted on December 26, 2016 by Marcia Ren

This is a re-post from December 2013 Hello,  Welcome to Marcia’s Cottage. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas,  and are now relaxing.. And enjoying some time with your family. ♡I know that’s what I’ll be doing. I have to tell you that I will be listening to Christmas music until 2014. I don’t know about you my friend,  but this has been the most JOYFUL December month for me ever!♡ As a matter of fact,  I am actually looking forward to another little get together this evening.  We have invited a few friends, and family over for a dinner. … Read the full blog post →

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My Holiday Casual Wear

Posted on December 25, 2016 by Marcia Ren

Hello, Welcome to Marcia’s Cottage by the Sea. ♡ I’m so happy to see you today my friend. ♡ Shall we have a little tea. ♡ With December almost over, and the holidays still lingering a bit longer, I decided to share a few simple outfits that I wore this past month. It’s important to keep the weather here on the coast in mind when putting any kind of outfit together. I enjoy simple, practical & yet stylish. Enjoy the rest of your holiday! 🎁

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A Christmas Winter Stroll

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Marcia Ren

The final plans are in place for Christmas. Seasonal influences from both the sacred & secular surround us.  Welcome to the magical time of the season. Christmas is everywhere. THE HALLS ARE DECKED THE TREE IS TRIMMED AND CAROLERS ARE singing: holiday spirit abounds. Living in Southern California I was use to seeing all the big city kind of stuff. Malls were almost on every corner, or jump hop on the freeway and you could have your choice for a festive exciting experience during the holidays. Just recently I was reminded that wonderful things come in small packages as well. Come along … Read the full blog post →

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A Christmas Tea

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Marcia Ren

 I’ve discovered this is a wonderful time of year to share the message of Hope 🌲 and Peace 🕊 with those around us. In 1996 while still living in Southern California I invited a few friends over for a Christmas Tea. Every year since I have hosted a gathering for tea during the holidays. There have been gatherings of 3, 8, 10, 12, and one year 40 ladies attended! Over the years that first Christmas Tea has developed into the perfect tradition. One which is steeped in love. And nothing pleases or excites me more than hosting one myself. I’m not sure why I get so … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Garden/Tea Time | 8 Comments

Advent…♡

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Marcia Ren

Below is a re~edited post. I wrote it before my move to the Oregon coast, where I’m currently experiencing the beauty of yet another Season. 🕊 Hello,  welcome to Marcia’s Cottage.  I’m so happy you stopped by. Its hard to believe that this is the third Sunday of Advent and that 2013 is coming to an end. ♡ It seems like it was just Summer and I was gardening: planting, seeding, pulling weeds, watering. .. This is my little rose garden. … on a VERY hot summer day. ♡ Well. .. actually dear friend it seems like it was just … Read the full blog post →

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A Christmas Cottage Kitchen

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Marcia Ren

Sooooo.… has the season’s HO! HO! HO! hit ya yet? If not, no worries because today I’m baking up some sugar cookies for you! a sweet spirit lifter so come along inside with me and we’ll share in some chat time because it’s chilly outside! seriously I’ve always enjoyed creating a beautiful  home especially during the holidays and in some ways decorating comes too easily for me especially during the holidays. It’s like my OCD orange county decorating whimsical self elf has it’s batteries fully charged. In the past while still living in California I’d often begin decorating right after Halloween seriously OCD back then  read a cute … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Our Cottage | 6 Comments

OH! OH! OH! All About ME!

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Marcia Ren

This post has been slightly re~edited from an original post dated December 6, 2013 Hello, welcome to Marcia’s cottage. I’m thrilled you stopped by today because I have some exciting news! Brrrrrrr……its freezing out here. Shall we go inside and have a cup of tea? Well, I have a great day planned.  My dear friend called earlier this week, and told me that the artist Mary Englebreit will be at a local gift shop today. My friend invited me to go and meet her… She knows I LOVE this artist! OH! OH! OH! “of course!” I said.         … Read the full blog post →

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The Shop Around The Corner

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Marcia Ren

Happy December! I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving. Here’s a peek at mine just in case you missed it My Thanksgiving and now here we are at the beginning of the last month of the year. Wow…it.went.fast. I guess you could say it has sort of been a tradition of mine to go window shopping after the Thanksgiving holiday. When I lived in SoCal I’d often visit and peruse the shops at Fashion Island Newport Beach, South Coast Plaza, and other little fun boutiques I discovered along the way. Sometimes I’d drive up to Lake Arrowhead and experience the cooler wintry like weather. … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living | 4 Comments