Category Archives: A Quarantined Life

A Room Of One’s Own…

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Marcia Ren

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at– Theodore Roosevelt Hello, sweet friend… No doubt the biggest difference between an old house and the newer ones… is the change where the kitchen is the center of the house and almost all daytime space revolves around the kitchen.. I am one of those who actually enjoys working in the kitchen alone… (I see it as somewhat of my sanctuary) This time of quarantine has taught me… now more than ever the importance of having a room to escape to… the proverbial room of one’s own…(We all need physical space to stay balanced) That being said I recently defined separate living areas between two rooms (living room and dining alcove) simply by sewing curtains for the French doors… The results make a happier statement within our home and somehow enhance moments of the day by creating a space … Continue reading →

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living | 10 Comments

Home…All Set For Easter & Coconut cupcakes

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Marcia Ren

Welcome is what reflects God’s spirit of love, joy and happiness. -Emilie Barnes Hello, sweet friends… Happy Easter!!! Home has never been so important… Ours has become a special way for me to experience contentment and express creativity. I feel fortunate that my husband supports… encourages… and most importantly… appreciates my ongoing efforts in creating a home for us. That being said this past week I had so much delight creating an Easter tablescape… sewing a small table cover and napkins which matched the dining alcove curtains… I think it all came together quite beautifully… What’s Cooking? This year instead of my usual bunny cake I thought it would be fun to bring it up a notch…and so I chose to bake Ina Garten’s delight. Oh my goodness!!! What made this dessert great was Joe loves coconut and I love cupcakes…perfect pairing! COCONUT CUPCAKES Ingredients: 3/4 pound unsalted butter at … Continue reading →

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | 4 Comments

My Spring Cleaning Break…❤️

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Marcia Ren

Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘let’s party.’ -Robin Williams Hello, sweet friend… This week I attempted a bit of spring cleaning… However I kept getting distracted… (Oddly only while cleaning) inevitably something would pop up… and before I knew it… I’d find myself questioning my priorities… I decided that the distractions had to be a sign from the universe… and we all know that when she speaks… you must listen… WHAT’S COOKING?👩‍🍳 Sausage Egg & Cheese Breakfast Puffs – only 4 ingredients! Super easy to make and tastes great! Puff pastry, eggs, sausage, and cheese. You can assemble ahead of time and freeze for a quick meal later…perfect for when you need a break! BREAKFAST PUFFS Ingredients: 1 (17.3-oz) package puff pastry, thawed 7 large eggs 18 uncooked breakfast sausage links (I substitute veggie sausage) 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 egg, beaten 1 Tbsp water Preheat oven to 400ºF degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a skillet, scramble … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020, A Quarantined Life, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | 1 Comment

Transitioning My Wardrobe Into Spring…

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Marcia Ren

Live life in full bloom… Hello, sweet friend… I’ve always enjoyed wearing fashionable clothing… and with Spring just around the corner… I’m sooooo excited to start thinking about it! Today I thought I would share with you how I am transitioning… into a new season… Living on the Oregon coast dressing is all about layering. That being said I’ve put a few outfits together using white as a basic…Anastasia is doing her usual catwalk freshening things up a bit by adding pretty spring colors. 👩‍🍳What’s Cooking? I had been looking forward to using the shamrock cookie cutter I recently purchased. Originally thinking I would bake up St. Paddy’s Day cookies still might…however this week I decided to whip up these puff pastry appetizers instead. They are soooo0 easy and great by themselves…served with humus or any other favorite dip you choose. 🍀Shamrock Crisp🍀 Ingredients: 1 store-bought pie dough or puff … Continue reading →

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Cooking, My Style | 2 Comments

Put Your Heart Into It…A Recipe For Hearts

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Marcia Ren

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 Hello, sweet friends… I’ve been a crafty gal this week… playing around with 2 ongoing projects kept me joyfully occupied… the first one was a prayer journal… the second was… a Valentine tree…. Creative expression has always been important to me… I have found it helpful in releasing thoughts and emotions that sometimes don’t find expression. I’m grateful for the many ways to create…Painting…music…dance…writing… it’s taken many years to realize I don’t have to be “perfect” at creating … the most important thing I’ve discovered… is that by exploring ways of being creative… I learn more about myself and this helps me grow… my creativity allows me to just be me…and that, dear reader, is the sweetest powerfully creative experience there is. CANDY HEARTS During one of my excursions to JoAnns I came … Continue reading →

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living | 8 Comments