Resolutions Schmesolutions!!!

I am not good with resolutions.... Last year I was determined to lose weight. A year later, I am not a pound lighter... I also thrived to simplify and organize. Well, let's say "it's a work in progress"... Slow progress, that is!! I do not want to sound negative, but I am a little bit done with setting goals and failing at them... If I could pick a resolution, this year, it would be to be more like Lisa Kelly, from "Ice Road Truckers"!! If you can drive a big rig over the icy roads of Alaska, and still look this cute doing it, then you are definitely my kind of girl!!!





So, this year, I am not setting any resolutions, maybe just a desire, an ambition: to love my life fully. To let go of the petty things, to embrace the little pleasures, to be present. To have a full heart. To be thankful. To work at it every single day!!! And definitely to still love myself when I fail to do so...!!!

I wish you all a wonderful new 2010!!!

2009 ~ A Year in Review

As we say goodbye to 2009, I look back and am amazed at how much has filled my life this year, how much richer I feel for all the adventures, the events, the friendships, the finds, the creations that have been a part of my year!! As I look at all my posts for this year, I take time to reflect on this incredible adventure called blog, which has allowed me to take you along in my treasure hunting, creative endeavours, memorable events and friendship bliss!! What fun it has been!! But, most importantly, I hope that it becomes obvious to all that, despite the fact that I do not blog extensively about my gang, the love I have for my family shines like a bright star above it all!!

As a final homage to 2009, I wanted to bring back some of my favorite posts month by month (and what a difficult selection that was!). Here are some of the highlights:

In January I had my first ever giveaway and shared snapshots of my bedroom...

In February I featured some of my favorite collections and took you along to Tarte's Grand Opening...

My birthday in March was a great time to reflect on my life, and I was very busy at Portland Antiques Expo...

In April I talked about Saudade and shared my passion for pink...

In May I dreamed of a Barn House life and soaked in the sun...

June took me on an incredible adventure called Farm Chicks and I choked when I saw my big girl move on to high school...

In July the Barn House Flea Market knocked my socks off, and I shared my tiny sewing/guest room...

In August I ventured to Snohomish for a blogfest, and had the enormous pleasure of seing Willow Nest back in the Northwest (look, I made a rhyme...)...

In September I bragged about my seventeen years of happiness, and headed to Coburg for the last show of the summer...

In October I shared my passion for blended quilts and featured a local favorite store, Madison Park...

November was a month to share favorite finds and latest creations....

... And finally in December I started a new adventure at Stars and introduced you to my dad, who came from Portugal to spend Christmas with us...

Thank you for tagging along with me on this grand adventure, it means so much to know that you are by my side!!! More often than you may think, I rely on your sweet friendship to keep me going, your encouragement, validation and unconditional love mean the world to me!!

Just for fun, I leave you with a couple of mosaics I created from my Flickr photostream, the first one features some of my favorite creations of 2009...

... and the second mosaic is a selection of some of my favorite vintage finds!! I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did making them!!

Thank you, Cindy, for hosting the Year in Review party!!! Please visit Cindy's blog for more blog reviews!! Happy New Year to all of you!!!

A fabric storage basket

Ever since I saw Kimberly's darling fabric storage basket a while back, I have been wanting to make one of my own!! Kimberly's blog is wonderful and inspiring, and she is always very generous with sharing her ideas and projects!! It took me only a few hours to get it done, and I love how it turned out...

Objets trouvés

The holiday frenzy has not stopped me from falling in love with some gorgeous found objects... Let me share my latest finds, one sweeter than the other!! Why, oh why, is it so easy for me to fall in love...?!!





This darling little basket was absolutely irresistible... Found in my friend Randy's space.





















I bought these sweet vintage ticking pillows from Barn House... You know I cannot resist pink!





















This adorable vintage American Red Cross drawstring bag was found in my friend Sue's booth. It has one of the prettiest fabrics I have ever seen, I am so in love!!!







It is hard to see, but this vintage sheer apron features the loveliest faded roses... A keeper for sure!


















From my friend Debbie came this awesome vintage wallpaper box, torn and tattered just like I like it!!

I found this sweet little bud vase for my mom (it's okay, she does not have a computer and does not read my blog!), her birthday is coming up soon and I will be mailing it to her!

Romancing your soul

My sister sent me this poem and I loved it!!! When I showed it to my oldest daughter, she said she had seen it at an assembly at her high school... Truly touching!

My decadent breakfast...

When we lived in Rabat, we became frequent visitors of this wonderful bakery shop called Paul... Not only did they have delicious bread, we also couldn't get enough of their pains au chocolat!!! Soon after we left, we started making our own quick version of a croissant au chocolat. We just slice the croissant, toast it, then melt some semi-sweet chocolate chips and smother the croissant with the melted chocolate. Absolutely delicious!!

Wishing you a merry Christmas!!

From our family to yours, we wish you all a wonderful Christmas day, filled with peace, love and laughter!!