Author Archives: Marcia Ren

Sipping Tea Across the Coasts: Valentine Celebrations in California and the Oregon Coast

No matter the compass points of your home, the universal language of tea welcomes all, inviting warmth, connection, and hospitality from east to west, north to south.💗 Photo taken in my California home while I was preparing for one of my tea parties. 2013 Embarking on a journey from sunny California to the misty Oregon coast, my Valentine tea parties have been a delightful adventure filled with cupcakes, charming themes, and the warm embrace of friendship. Join me as I share the unique experiences of hosting these gatherings in two distinct locations. California Soiree: In the sun-drenched ambiance of California, … Read the full blog post

Posted in Garden/Tea Time | 7 Comments

Crafting a Cozy February: Elevating My Coffee Bar with Love💕

Love brews in every cup, as the warmth of coffee and the sweetness of togetherness blend in a special Valentine’s Day coffee bar…where every sip is a celebration of love. – Marcia Embrace the season of love by transforming your everyday coffee bar into a delightful Valentine’s Day haven. In this post, I’ll walk you through how I curated a charming February coffee bar using existing items, hearfelt touches, and a dash of creativity. Celebrate love from the first sip with a selection of coffee mugs adorned with whimsical hearts. I utilized a few of my favorite mugs, each telling … Read the full blog post

Posted in Coastal Living, Garden/Tea Time | Tagged | 4 Comments

From Functional Closet to Boutique Dream: My Seasonal Revamp Part 2

I’m going to make everything around me beautiful…that will be my life. ~Elsie De Wolfe A little over a year ago, I made the decision to transform a small, underutilized bedroom into something more personal and functional: a dedicated closet for my clothing collection. It was a choice that brought not only order but also a spark of joy to my daily routine. Yet, as we all do with spaces we love, I continued to dream of ways to enhance it. Recently, amidst a typical decluttering session, a wave of inspiration struck. Why not merge the functionality of this space … Read the full blog post

Posted in Coastal Living | 3 Comments

Revamping Chaos: The Closet-to Boutique Makeover Journey (Part 1)

In the canvas of life, the brush strokes of creativity ignite the transformative magic… 💗 Marcia Transforming a space within your home can often lead to a surprising journey of rediscovery and creativity. This is the story of how an overlooked bedroom-turned-closet began its metamorphosis into a charming and inviting boutique-like space. Join me as I navigate through the initial stages of clutter-clearing and the spark of an idea that would turn a mundane space into a delightful retreat. Starting with a Blank Slate The decision to convert a bedroom into a closet had been a practical one at first. … Read the full blog post

Posted in Coastal Living | 4 Comments

Embracing Coziness: A Winter Home Refresh and Comforting Soup Recipe👩‍🍳

In the winter’s embrace, the cozy nest of home becomes a sanctuary, warmed not just by blankets but by the comforting aroma of winter feasts, turning each meal into a celebration of comfort and joy… 💕Marcia As the holiday season winds down, there’s a unique joy in putting away the festive decor, clearing spaces, and embracing the promise of a new year. Living in a region where winter brings colder temperatures and rain, I find solace in creating a warm and inviting home during this time. Each room becomes a sanctuary, and I relish the opportunity to nestle into the … Read the full blog post

Posted in What’s Cooking? | 6 Comments

✨Reflecting on New Year Goals Through Home Undecoration🥰

As the calendar turns, let the new year be a threshold to open the doors of home to hope, love, and endless possibilities. – Marcia As we step into the new year, I decided to take you along on a heartfelt journey of clearing out and winterizing my home after the festive season. Each room became a space for reflection, offering me the opportunity to contemplate my goals for the year ahead. Living Room Undecorating the living room was a poignant experience. As I carefully removed ornaments from the tree, it became a soulful experience, reflecting on the memories they … Read the full blog post

Posted in Our Cottage | 3 Comments

Embracing the Extraordinary in Everyday Moments: Reflecting on 2023🌟

Embrace the blank pages of the New Year with courage, write your story in ink of joy, and may each chapter be filled with hope and resilience. 💗 As I reflect on the end of 2023, it feels like the closing chapter of a magical fairytale set against the backdrop of Carmel, California. The holidays were enchanting, and scrolling through my photos, each image tells a story of a life filled with beauty and love. From the beginning of the year, where every room in my home became a canvas of warmth, to meals crafted with love, every month was … Read the full blog post

Posted in Coastal Living | 2 Comments

A Magical Christmas and Milestone Birthday; Celebrating in Carmel, California

In the dance of life, each day is a unique melody; celebrate its rhythm, for the symphony of existence, unfolds in the joy of embracing every precious note. – Marcia While I typically cherish the coziness of our home during the holidays, this year a Christmas getaway added a new dimension to our cherished traditions. The journey began when my husband proposed the idea of spending Christmas week in Carmel, California… a place known for its picturesque charm and idyllic coastal setting. After careful consideration and planning, he orchestrated a getaway that would not only include the festivities of Christmas … Read the full blog post

Posted in Coastal Living | Tagged | 8 Comments

Sipping Memories: A Coastal Christmas Tea Tradition

Embarking on the winding roads of nostalgia, I find myself back in the heartwarming embrace of tradition that took root years ago in the sun-soaked landscapes of California…the annual Christmas tea. What started as a simple gathering blossomed into a cherished ritual that endured, even as I traversed the journey to the coastal ranges of Oregon. While so much has changed since the days in California, the memories of those festive teas endure, a treasured tapestry of laughter, stories, and shared warmth. With each sip, I am transported back to the familiar gatherings, surrounded by loved ones, and the simple … Read the full blog post

Posted in Cooking, Garden/Tea Time, My Style | Tagged | 5 Comments

🎄Crafting Christmas Cheer: 🧑‍🎄A Day of Wreath Making with Friends🎄

Crafting Christmas wreaths with friends, each bough intertwined with laughter and shared joy, we weave not just greens but memories that adorn our hearts throughout the season. 🎄 – Marcia The holiday season is a time for warmth, togetherness, and creating lasting memories with loved ones. Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing a delightful day with a group of ladies, where we gathered at a friend’s home for a unique adventure…learning how to make Christmas wreaths. This day was filled with laughter, creativity, and the joy crafting our own holiday decorations. In this blog post, I’ll share the wonderful … Read the full blog post

Posted in Coastal Living | 6 Comments