People inspire you, or they drain you, pick them wisely. I saw this quote last week while I was poking around Pinterest and it’s gotten itself lodged in my head.   I can’t stop thinking about it.   I picture the words, white against the black background, I hear them in my head, screaming at me over the music on my car radio, I’ve even caught them floating through the twilight right before I fall asleep.   Nagging, nagging, I couldn’t figure out why they were weighing on me so heavily and then tonight it hit me and it’s all about my shower curtain.

Sometimes the best home decor accessories are not accessories at all...they're food! Fruits, veggies, baked good, can all make a room look warmer and add style. Here's how to use food to decorate your home naturally.    Years ago I was sitting in my kitchen with two friends discussing decorating styles, when they told me that I was the accessory queen. Really? I was kind of shocked when they said it. They both had lovely homes, with lots of accent pieces around. In fact, the homes of most of my friends and neighbors were very well appointed. What was it then, specifically, that elevated me to queen? And wait. Was it a compliment or did it just mean my home was cluttered?

Live your life as an exclamation, not as an explanation is a great quote. Live with abandon and don't worry about the what the crowd thinks. Believe it or not, I get some of the best advice in the housewares aisles of my favorite stores. Marshalls, HomeGoods, Tuesday Morning.  Seriously, better than the books on the self help shelves. And much easier to read.

Make a super simple wooden sign with wallpaper decals. Sometimes words get in the way. I have a weakness for decorative signs. My style is a cross between country cottage and farmhouse so they are a good fit. I am also just one of those people that loves quotes and sayings. I have many of them peppered around my home and it makes me happy when I catch sight of one of them in my daily travels. The words make me giggle or inspire me in a way that accessories like candlesticks cannot.

Chicken pizzaiola is a delicious and easy recipe. It's an Italian classic that can be whipped up in minutes and is crowd pleaser. Come check it out. The past year was a rough one for my family, in large part, because we had to move my mom into a nursing home. Her health had deteriorated and in such a short period of time, that despite all our efforts, we were left with no choice.  She required the type of care that only a medical facility could provide. It has been emotionally draining and very sad for all parties involved. However, in my new quest to seek out the beauty and inspiration in every day, I have been working hard to identify something positive in this depressing situation. Today, I think I may have found it. During the monumental job of emptying my mom’s home, my sisters came across a tattered, faded, beat up marble notebook. I recognized it immediately. It was her recipe book . They had unearthed gold! You see, I may be a very comfortable and confident dec...

Swap out winter decor for spring accessories and watch your home bloom! OUT WITH WINTER....

What other people thing of you is none of your business. It's a little known fact. It was a forward entitled “Things to Keep in Mind for a Great New Year.”   It was another January email trying to remind me how wonderful my life could be, if I just kept these few things in mind.   I quickly scanned through the list, full of cutesy one liners and platitudes.   Then there it was, number twelve.    What other people think of you is none of your business .    It hit me like a ton of bricks.   Huh.