Author Archives: Marcia Ren

“Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighborhoods, and our joy of living. All at once.”– Chris Rose Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are well… Joe & I recently returned from New Orleans where we attended Mardi Gras. The excitement of parties and all the spectacular parades with crowds of people prancing down the streets…cheering at full throttle, grabbing for colorful beads… and other trinkets that filled the air…was a sight to see… It’s hard to imagine unless you’re actually there… Growing out of … Read the full blog post →

“An American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardi-Gras in New Orleans.” Mark Twain Hello, sweet friends… I hope you are doing well… By the time this post publishes I will be on my way to New Orleans…Joe has whisked me away once more… to celebrate the Mardi Gras…which I promise to share… However, today I want to share how I transformed our home… with a fun overhaul on our stairs… I didn’t know how to apply peel and stick wallpaper before tackling this fun project… but after I saw how quick and easy it was… … Read the full blog post →

“Ah! There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” – Jane Austin Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well… I’ve always enjoyed nostalgic cozy decor… and these last couple of years have brought an even deeper desire for nostalgia… I love that it encapsulates the feelings of comfort from our mother’s, grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s homes, hence the nickname “Granny Chic”… It makes my heart soooo happy that this style is making a comeback among Grandmillennial’s (those ranging from their 20’s-mid 30’s) who are also desiring a bit of nostalgia and putting their own personality into this … Read the full blog post →

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” – William Morris Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well! February 14th has become a celebratory day of the heart… it’s an opportunity to express a special gesture of kindness…. for me that means… hosting a Valentine Tea… Today I thought I’d share a little insp0 for a gathering… Trust me…it can be quite fun to decorate using the colors of LOVE: red, pink, & white… and discovering just the right table covering with something I already have… of course … Read the full blog post →

I celebrate myself, and sing myself I loafe and invite my soul…-Walt Whitman Hello, sweet friends… Happy February! 💕 I am very lucky to have several antique/junk stores along where I live… So on a beautiful sunny morning this past week… I set out on the open road… visiting three… It was fun to peruse through small isles… discovering many delights… This is an activity that brings me peace… pleasure…and much joy. I enjoy getting different ideas for creating a little bit of this & that…which is definitely a passion of mine. With a grateful heart…a few small items and … Read the full blog post →

There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. -Robert Louis Stevenson Hello, sweet friends… I hope you are doing well and staying warm… It’s hard to believe the month is almost over… January has definitely flown by! I have kept busy by filling our home with the cozy comfort of winter charm… creating small relaxing havens to retreat to… This week the bedroom got a refresh… and although it’s still a while before Spring… I couldn’t resist the temptation of adding a bit of lightness & joy! What’s Cooking 👩‍🍳 Amish Cinnamon Bread My … Read the full blog post →

“Life itself is a privilege. But to live life to the fullest…well… that is a choice.”-Andy Andrews Aristotle reminds us that we are what we do every day. I’m grateful I love what I do… that being said…   it’s vitally important for me to take good care of myself in order for me to feel at my best, and to be as healthy as possible. I’ve been re-evaluating my life… taking a fresh look at how well I spend my time. I wish to joyfully go about my daily rituals appreciating life’s precious moments along the way. ☕️ A … Read the full blog post →

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible” – Walt Disney Hello, sweet friend…I hope you are well… On my way home from a recent hair appointment… an interesting thought ran though my mind… I have never lived in a home that had a basement… there was a darkness about them… At some level I even thought they felt a little creepy…all those scary movies I watched as a teenager didn’t help. Needless to say… I wasn’t sure the best (happiest) way to utilize 800 square ft.of basement… Fortunately with the extra time spent at home I finally saw the … Read the full blog post →

“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past” -Thomas Jefferson Hello, sweet friend… Happy, HAPPY New Year! at the end of 2021 I made a promise to myself that 2022 would be the year I embraced with outstretched arms…a joyful, open heart…and more joy (coming from peace, hope & faith) I began with a gratitude list of all that I’m thankful for… especially being alive! I am breathing…have great energy…and looking forward to a wildly enthusiastic new year. The year will bring a continued journey of the familiar…unknown experiences…new friends and the discovery of … Read the full blog post →

I change myself, I change the world ~Gloria Anzaldua 🌟 Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well. The small town I live in experienced a good snowfall this week… and as another year draws to a close… it became the perfect backdrop for reflection… My intellect tells me the weakly optimistic phrase “It could have been worse” is hardly a ringing endorsement of 2021… and yet my heart knows it’s true… there was still much good that happened… even among the hardships… I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for so many things… that being said… My hope … Read the full blog post →