I live in the most charming little beach neighborhood. Originally settled back in the 1920's as a summer getaway, the area is filled with unique cottages, that over time, have been renovated for modern, year round living....like this one...

Easy and inexpensive summer floral arrangements are a great DIY party addition. Check out these mason jar ideas that combine store-bought posies and blooms from your own garden. Change up the flowers and it's an idea that works for any season or holiday. Summertime is party time. Graduations, showers, weddings and seasonal celebrations abound and there's no better way to decorate than with flowers. Unfortunately, professional floral arrangements can be pricey. I remember way back when I got married, the florist wanted upwards of $150 per table. Yikes. That was not happening. Plus, the featured looks were just not my style. I'm a simple girl and I was looking for something pretty basic. After almost an hour of trying to explain what I was going for, she wasn't really getting it. I'm sure that she must have thought I was a bit crass, but I finally said, "What's the cheapest thing you've got?"

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. It's time to lighten up the look and welcome the warm weather with some fun decor for your front door or entryway. No time, you say? Well, I have a few super simple wreaths that can be whipped up in minutes. A couple of them are constructed from scratch, a couple are reworked ~ updated with a new look for pennies. Let's have a look, shall we?

There are times in life when everything chugs merrily along, perfectly according to plan and schedule. I have found that in my life, those times are precious few and far between.  The last several years have actually been filled with one unplanned event or circumstance after another, some good, some not so good, some downright terrible. 

Recently, I was asked to put together a gift basket for an auction at church. While I was super happy to oblige, I cringed at the prospect of the actual task. Last year, I donated two baskets , one filled with craft supplies for grown ups and one filled with crafts for kids. They looked beautiful, were easy to put together and they generated a lot of raffle sales. A hit!  Super. Doing it again. Ugh. 

Is your style changing as you age? Finding the perfect wardrobe in middle age isn't always easy. However, shopping without your teenagers and their perfect little bodies can help. Well, that and a good sense of humor.  It happens every few years. Suddenly nothing in my closet is right . It all feels dated, looks awkward and makes me want to scream.

Last week, I asked you all to play a little game and answer a few questions about my blog. I won't keep you in suspense any longer, I know you've been waiting for the results of that survey with baited breath. No? Not really? Huh. Ok, maybe that was just me. Probably. Well, either way, the results are in and I'm going to share them with you...well, because I want to. And as one lovely respondent stated, I " should just share what I want ." I love that answer, by the way, and I do want to please my audience, so here goes.

Mother's Day may be just around the corner, but there's still time to spoil a mom in your life with a personal gift you can make on your own. Easy, inexpensive and totally doable. Check them out. Way back in 2015, I shared a few crafty projects for Mother's Day.  Since that time, 8 long years ago, I've come up with a few more ideas to add to the list. Of course, as a mom, I can say with confidence, the best gift is always time spent together. But no one says you can't make a little something to sweeten the day.  ♡♡♡