Winter...

We are experiencing this...

And I want this!!!

ENOUGH SAID!!!

~Stacy~ xo

I'm Not Impressed!

Okay...so here's the deal. I am feeling a cold coming on. I thought that I was being careful; washing my hands like crazy, downing my vitamin C w/echinacea every day and here I am feeling sniffly! Grrrr! I took a break from the gym last week because I felt like I needed the rest after the holidays and today was supposed to be my "gung ho" day back and where am I...at home. I am also supposed to be getting all of my new listings on the web site...lots of lovely treasures to list for all you ladies and I'm just not feeling quite right. Maybe this little bug will be short lived and I'll be feeling 100% tomorrow. I sure hope so! Being under the weather is no fun! ~Stacy~ xo

Magazine Junkie!

Okay, I confess...I am a magazine junkie! Yes, it's true. I'm lucky that I have a membership at Barnes and Noble...every little discount helps! (*_*) I am getting better though. I have really cut down on my magazine purchases this past year. I am trying to be even more disciplined even though sometimes I just can't help it. Decorating magazines are my downfall. I have absolutely no problem walking into Barnes & Noble and leaving with 4-5 magazines..and perhaps a few books as well.

I have cut out some of my subscriptions this past year. I currently subscribe to Romantic Homes, Victoria, Veranda and Country Living magazines. I love Romantic Homes for obvious reasons ~ I am a romantic at heart. At first I wasn't too thrilled with the direction the magazine was taking, but my tastes have really changed over the past while and I am embracing the new look and new direction. I also advertise in Romantic Homes and the ads have really helped my business to grow. I am thrilled to have my old friend, Victoria Magazine, back in my life. I have heaps of back issues from years gone by. The thing that I love about Victoria is that it never goes out of style. The classics never do. Veranda is another guilty pleasure. I love the thick, glossy pages of this magazine. The homes featured are stunning and even the ads are a treat to look at. I am actually going to be letting Country Living go when my subscription runs out. I am finding that I am just not too thrilled with it these days. So many of the articles and homes look the same from month to month. I think it is time to say goodbye...

Another reason why I love going to Barnes & Noble for my magazines is that they have a great section of magazines from other countries. I love the British decorating magazines, they are so lovely and the Australian ones are great too. Those bring me back to a time when I made several extended trips "down under" and I had friends who loved decorating and spending time at home. It's always so interesting to see fashions and styles from other parts of the globe.

Spend some time this month with your favorite magazines. It's such a soothing way to pass the time on a cold winter day. We are having a "real" winter here in Utah this year and I don't know of anything better than sitting down in my favorite spot with a hot drink and losing myself in a beautiful magazine. That's what I'm going to be doing...soon it will be spring! (*_*) ~Stacy~ xo

Life Is Simple...

Life is simple. As I gaze at this beautiful photograph of Sandra Bullock I can't help but wonder why so many of us choose to complicate our lives with so many unnecessary things. Just take a glance at this photograph...clean, simple, beautiful, white, serene...these are all words that come to mind when looking at this lovely woman and most of those words describe how I'm feeling about my life.


A new year always seems to make me think about so many things...things that have happened to me this past year or so and things that I want to accomplish in the coming year. This evening I had a chance to read some of the various popular blogs and web sites that so many of you ladies visit, sometimes on a daily basis. They are all so beautiful; full of expression, creativity, lovely graphics, breathtaking products and a lot of hard, hard work. It made me think...hmmm...yes, I should be updating my web site for the new year, giving my blog a new look, networking with other business women to increase my contacts, seek out new links, redo my graphics...yes, lots of things. In all honesty, it just makes me tired. Yes friends, this is honesty right down to the bare bones...I just don't feel like it. I read all of the things that everyone is doing and I think...wow, don't those ladies ever get tired and just feel like taking a day off...a week off...maybe longer? I know I do and many of them have several small children at home...I don't, never have, so it seriously makes me wonder what is wrong with me!


My New Year's resolutions? Less complication, less stress, more relaxing times, more laughter and more fun! If that means my web site doesn't get updated for awhile...oh well! If that means that my house looks way emptier...good! These past few days I have been gathering up tons of my personal treasures to sell...things that I never thought I would part with in a million years and I don't have anything to take their place. Do you ever notice how much better you feel when you clean out a room and get rid of all the clutter? It must be a January thing...this whole post must be a January thing. (*_*)


So remember, if you are feeling overwhelmed and bombarded with the everyday things, take some time out, clean something out, take a few days off. Your business will survive, your family will survive too. Life really is simple...we are the ones who complicate it. On that note, I am going off to read my new Victoria magazine that came in the mail today. If that's not relaxing, I don't know what is.... ~Stacy~ xo

What's Christmas Without A Little Bit Of Fun!

So the tree has been up for quite awhile already and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I have lots of pics to post and I will try to get them up on my Photo Gallery page on the web site soon! A few years back I started a little tradition, with myself, to find a funny or quirky ornament every year to put on my tree. I wanted to add a bit of whimsy and not just have the same boring, stodgy ornaments year after year.

The first year I spotted this hilarious "pink" lady ornament in a speciality Christmas store. She's quite the gal sipping on her drink with her pink mermaid tail and matching hair. I knew I had to have her! Now let me tell you, my Mom hates this ornament. She's so polite and doesn't say much, but I know when my Mom does not approve and she doesn't have the same sense of humor that I do for these sorts of things. I'm sure she thinks it's ghastly! (*_*) The next year I came across this cute pink pig at Target in the Christmas aisle. I have a few of these tucked in my branches. My "weird" ornaments are not front and center on the tree, but rather they are tucked in here and there so they give someone something to go back and look at as they are passing by.

I have not found my quirky ornament for this year yet. I did find a rather delightful toad ornament with a pink crown on his head at Steinmart, but I neglected to buy it and the only Steinmart here in Salt Lake is quite far from my home so I haven't been back. I should have bought him when I first saw him! So I say, add a bit of fun and whimsy to your tree! It will delight you and children alike...and maybe some adults too! ~Stacy~ xoxo

Merry Christmas To You All!

Dear Friends ~ Yes, to put it mildly it has been a long time since my last post...over a month to be exact! Time flies when you are having fun! I must admit that I am not a dedicated blogger! I marvel at the ladies out there who have time to post every day sharing all of the creative and interesting things they do. I guess that's just not for me! When I started my blog, the one thing I didn't want it to be was a burden. So, I post when I can and when I feel inspiration calling me!

My Mom was with us for five weeks so my blog was severely neglected while she was here...and that was just fine with me. We had so much fun together and even the little ritual of hanging out in the morning with our morning coffee and tea was extra special. The time spent with her seems all the more precious now that my Dad is gone. Mom lives in Canada, where I am from, and I don't get to see her very much. I am thankful that she likes to come and visit. Mom, you truly are a blast to hang out with. I am grateful for the time we spend together. (*_*)

This Christmas is going to be a low key one for Wade and me. We don't have any children around the house. Scott, my stepson, will be around for the holidays, but he will be staying at his Mom's. He works in Wyoming in the oilfields and tonight I just found out that he has put in his two weeks' notice. We are not very happy about it, but it's his life and his decision so that is that. When he moves back he will be living with his Mom...she is closer to his new girlfriend's house! LOL! Wade has to work on Christmas Eve so I will be spending it alone. He does have Christmas day off though so we will cook ourselves a small turkey and spend the day together.

The web site has been busy this month and I am thankful for that and for all of my dedicated and loyal customers and friends. Without you, this business of mine would not be possible and I enjoy it so much...so thank you one and all! May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! ~Stacy~ xoxo

New Treasures In Lavish Lighting!

Hello Ladies ~ we've just finished listing these adorable vintage fixtures in our Lavish Lighting Boutique! This pair of antique sconces with sparkling prisms is just gorgeous! The pretty hand painted ceiling fixture above is so sweet too. It would be perfect for a romantic little bathroom, hallway or nursery. The candlestick lamps include the lovely Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic shades. So pretty! Be sure to have a browse through all of our lovely Boutiques. We have so many lovely treasures right now! ~Stacy~