Notes from A Cottage Industry

Halloween hits the workplace.

Last Friday I moved to a new cubical at work, and so I spent part of last Sunday foofifyig up my cube. (I know, you are not the least bit surprised.)

I went with super affordable black plastic frames on black and white family photos in several sizes. (God Bless Walgreens! Cheap and speedy photo prints you cna order online and pick up in an hour!)
I added some photo boxes for storage, and my vintage typewriter, and used an old clipp-y holder I found at Camas Antiques to hold more black and white pictures. (I am pretty sure the metal holder was originally a potato chip bag holder from a mini mart!)

Here is the back end of my cubical workspace...
Then, I added just a hint of Halloween to it. I added my signature book page "BOO" Banner, and a few cobwebs..
...and some glittery spiders...
....and a little crow.
...Oh, and Mr. Bones here completed the look.
One of my gal-pals at work said it looked very "Poe-esque" and I took that as a compliment. (Considering I am really not a more-is-more person when it comes to Halloween decorating.)

I don't know if I shared this before, but the folks where I work are really a lot of fun. They are creative types, with think-outside-the-box mentalities, and they are competative. This all makes for a positive and challenging, feel-good atmosphere to work in. (And play in.)

Anyway.

We had a cubical decorating contest, a costume contest, and trick-or-treating from cubical to cubical near the end of the day for all of the employees kids. (And Grand-kids!)
I loved watching my little men comparing their stash with another little guy....
...and watching them scurry with their Daddy to get more treats from the Good Witch across the hall.

So much fun.

Next fun-at-work event? Getting ready for the Christmas Cubical Decorating contest, of course.

...and then there were six.

Be still my Grand-baby-squeezin-n-kissin' heart. I now have five little Grand-sons and one Grand-daughter.

Six lil' faces to smooch.

It doesn't get any better than that.

Except knowing that we will have all six of them together for a weekend very, very soon.

Arriving more than a week late, Jonah Matthew certainly made a grand entrance when he decided to finally make his appearance,  weighing in at 9.9 pounds!

Thanking God and feeling oh-so-thankful, and grateful, and blissfully happy tonight, knowing that he and his Mama are both doing fine.

We are truly blessed.

Day Sixteen. Seasonal charm in the workplace.

(Yes, I'm behind on my 31 Days theme, but I am working on getting caught up.) Living a charmed life on a shoestring isn't only about making your home a haven. It stands to reason that since many of us spend the bulk of our time at a full time job, it should be a warm and cozy place; a second home of sorts.
I always add little seasonal touches to my work area, and it makes me happy to see how the warm effect it generates with  other people that pop by my place.
I am not a huge Halloween person, but I do love me some litte crows here and there and a skeleton or two.Oh, and a glittery spider is the perfect touch on a pile of Autumn leaves on an old book, I think.

After Halloween, I leave the pumpkins and put away the spooky touches, leaving things with a harvest feel.
Do you add little seasonal welcome touches to your work space? I'd love to hear what you do!

weekly words to live by

I'm still planning to complete my 31 Days serie, but for today, I have some Words to Live By....

Day Fifteen. A charmed life starts in bed.

I am all about my bedsheets.

Freshly washed crisp cotton percale in the summer time, and soft flannel sheets on the bed (...Especially following a nice hot bath!) on a cold Autumn night are pure heaven on earth, for sure.

And pillows.

Oh, the pillows.

Feather bed pillows, and euro's and toss pillows. They all add a bit of charm to a bed, don't you think?

The simple fact is that if you've got the right sheets, pillows, and blankets combo, you never want to leave your bed.

Mmmm hmmm.

It's that charming.

Day Fourteen. Seasonal charm. (And weekly words to live by.)

It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.

Adding just a few touches for the season adds charm to your home, and makes everything feel fresh once again.

I decorate my front porch with a few scattered traditional orange pumpkins, and then add a few white ones (some faux, and some real) inside to add a soft look of Autumn. Remember, you can add instant glam to any pumpkin by using a bit of spray glue and some shimmery glitter.

I think adding these little visual touches for the changing seasons adds charm to a home, don't you? Where is your favorite, and most surprising place you decorate for the season?  Do tell!

 

Day thirteen. Living a charmed life during football season.

Making time for down time is a part of living a charmed life that we sometimes forget, because life is just so busy.

This Sunday we're gonna be planted on the sofa watching football, so this week I took a little time to make sure I took care of a few things to make it extra special....

Television remote. Check.

Team jersey. Check.

Rock n' Roll Buddy on the sofa cushion next to me to call the penalties before the ref's do. Check.

At a glance it looks like we've got it all covered, but wait. There's nothing too extraordinary here so far. (Okay, the fact that Ralph can call the penaties and announce the plays before the ref's is pretty impressive, although not necessarily considered charming, except to me.)

We're having the Sewing Queen, and a couple of Patriot's fan-friends over to watch the Seahawks dominate play the Patriots tomorrow, and I ordered some fabulous party accessories from my most favorite thrifty party online place. (Oh, I am sure you have shopped here, haven't you? If not, you need to check them out. Lot's of great stuff, and lot's of the time it's free shipping.)

Just look at the goodies I got, for next to nuthin', will ya?

Football shaped paper plates, and Seahawks napkins (Hey, we're the home team after all.) I also got some too-cute-to-pass-up football lanterns, which I will also use on Superbowl Sunday. (along with the rest of the rest of my stash of football shaped paper plates!)

We'll be grillin' burgers at halftime, and these fun accessories wil make the entire meal more fun.

What are you doing for fun this weekend?

Day Twelve. Bake some love.

And make it pretty, while you're at it.

(That's the extra charming part.)

I made a batch of sweet and yummy cupcakes for a friend that was throwing a vintage themed baby shower.
I used my signature dictionary pages to create little flags, adding eensy-weensy buttons to some of them.
You can make any dessert (Even a store bought one!) more charming by adding little flags, or crafting a tiny banner between two toothpicks. It takes a few minutes, and adds a wow factor that will make you smile.

Day Eleven. Traditions Thanksgiving Linky Party-Even leftovers can be charming.

Betcha didn't know that.

Well, Thanksgiving is gonna be here before we know it, and joining in the fun of the Traditions Thanksgiving Linky Party, I started to think, and to plan a few details for the day. You know, beyond the turkey, the stuffing,and the pies. (Be sure and check out all of the blogs participating in the Linky Party! You'll find some terrific Thanksgiving decorating, and tablescape ideas, plus some really great recipes!!!) This Linky party is going to be a lot of fun because we are travelling from North to South, East to West to include hostesses from Canada and the US!

At the end of my post it will be your turn to show us how you have been preparing for Thanksgiving!  Link up with us at the end of this blog post!

So tell me, what is your family Thanksgiving tradition?  What are you thankful for this year?

Since the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday is October 8th and the American Thanksgiving holiday is November 22, this party will run for 7 weeks from October 3 to November 20th.

I'm going to have so much fun joining my crafty co-hosts from At The Picket Fence, Freckled Laundry, It's So Very Cheri, Mrs. Hine's Class, Notes From A Cottage Industry and Three Mango Seeds!

Each week your hostess will post a delicious Thanksgiving recipe, a DIY or craft related to that week's party theme as well as a family tradition that they share with their loved ones every Thanksgiving!


October 3 - 9: Thanksgiving Tablescapes here at Setting for Four
October 10 - 16: Printables at Notes From A Cottage Industry
October 17 - 23:  Mantel Decor at Mrs. Hine's Class
October 24 -30: Kid's Craft at At The Picket Fence
October 31- Nov 6: Bunting at It's So Very Cheri
Nov 7 - 13: Centerpiece at Freckled Laundry
Nov 14 - 20: Front Door/Porch Decor at Three Mango Seeds

Speaking of this Linky Party, you should check out Heather's fabulous tablescape ideas here..
...and Check out her yummy Maple Syrup Acorn Squash Casserole recipe here as well..doesn't it look de-lish?
I got so excited about this seasonal Linky Party that I almost forgot what I was sharing.

Oh yesh.

Last night I went ahead and made my favorite better-than-Pumpkin-Pie dessert. Mmmmm, just as yummy as we remembered it.
Of course there were leftovers, and that got me thinking some more. I like to keep a good stash of disposable containers for friends and family to take leftovers home after a meal at our home. My personal favorite are the cardboard fold up boxes, and round tubs with lids that you can find at places like Cash and Carry, or any Restaraunt Supply. (I actually got my huge supply of fold up boxes for two bucks at a yard sale several years back, when someone was closing a deli!) You can get a nice selection plastic tubs with lids of all sizes at your local Dollar Store, as well as several kinds of aluminum foil tubs with tops.

I also keep brown craft paper handled paper bags to load the conatiners into, so guests feel like they are taking home a special little prezzie when they leave.

Anyway.

This year I am going a step further, and I'll be adding a cute sign to let folks know where they can grab their To-Go containers after the table is cleared this Thanksgiving. And, as part of my Thanksgiving Traditions link up party, I've decided to share them with you as a gift from me. Simply Download Thanksgiving leftover sign for the pdf. Then print on the paper of your choice, fold in half to make a free standing sign card, and enjoy. (You can really change the look simply by changing the type of paper.)

You can print the sign on cardstock, or scrapbook paper, or even on an old book page if you like. Once it's printed, you can fold it in half and it will stand on it's own...or you can set it near your own to-go station in a sweet picture frame, or a vintage sign holder, like I did.
Whatcha think? It's one more unexpected slice of charm.

And I think your guests will love you for it.

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Day Ten. Make life charming with placecards....for you. And me.

I hope you are loving the fonts links from yesterday. (Say you are!) Well, today, I thought I'd share more ideas on how to use those cutie-patootie fonts.

I shared the picture yesterday showing the "You" place card. The phot up above is from an old post here. These are actually my favorite kind of place card, when there are just two of us dining. No need to put a person's proper name. "You" and "Me" is just sweeter.

(Here is a photo from my old cottage on Norman Drive in the Biggest Little City when I shared a charming breakfast with a dear friend.)
And, it makes your place cards re-usable, for the next time there are just two of you. (You and a girlfriend, you and your kid-let, or grand-babe, you and your sweetheart....) Heck, now that I think on it, a place card that reads, "Me" is pretty fantastic when dining alone. (Goes back to Alexandra Stodddard's Living a Beautiful Life concept, doesn't it?)

Print them in English, print them in French, make them plain or make them fancy.

Oh, the possibilities make my head spin.

And make me want to create some right now.

With glitter.

And book pages.

Try making some placecards for your lunch..or dinner table today. You'll be surprised at just how much charm they can add to your life.

 

 

Day nine. Favorite fonts.

If you've read my blog for nay length of time, you know that I love making place cards, gift tags, signs, and banners.It's such a quick way to make things look special...little place cards, tied with a fabulous bow, that read, "You" and "Me" makes any meal charming.
Likewise, homemade gift tags with a sweet quotation or Happy birthday make any package look amazing.

What makes these things so fun (and easy!) to create, is my computer, and all of the incredible fonts available out there in cyber-land.

My favorite spot to find a font to go with anything I am making, is Dafont.

They have it all.

(Almost.)

For free, folks.

It just doesn't get any better than that.

Simply look at any alphabet page on their site. (Make sure you have yourself a cuppa something and a comfy seat, 'coz you will be there for a long while.)

I have shared some of my most favorite fonts in the picture above. (Not all of these are from Defont, so click on the hot links for locations to download...)

They are:

1. Jellyka Delicious Cake

2. Jellyka Bee Antique Handwriting

3. Jellyka King's Hat

4. JI Hidden Vines

5. Janda Fabulous

6. James Han

7. Girls Are Weird

8. Lemon Chicken

9. Playdate

10. Gallery

Get yourself some great fonts, and use any WORD document or Print type program, and make some fabulous details for your next special event....like tonight's supper.

 

Day Eight. Keep a well stocked pantry for nearly instant meals and snacks that make you look like you worked hard..

Okay, so I touched on this topic the other day, when I shared that I use Stagg Chili in a pinch when time gets away from us and I want dinner to still fill the bill.

And look like I made an effort.

I have a list of items I consider staples that have that instant yum factor and that look like I slaved over a hot stove or oven for a while.

Besides the Stagg Chili (all you need to add are the toppings of cheese, onions and sour cream and you're good to go.) a close second for Autumn is chowder, or soups. All the deli counters in the Grocery stores have chowders and soups, and the ones in the pint and quart tubs are good for about two months after purchase. (How great is that?!) Boxed soups,like Campbell's or Trader Joe's own brand(Tomato, Butternut Squash, Pumpkin come to mind.) are perfect served in a hollowed out bread bowl or, served piping hot out of the ol' microwave adn topped with sweet little star shaped crutons you make yourself from the heels of leftover bread.

One more favorite speedy-and-fabulous item is Krusteaz Brand Crumb Cake. I love to keep these on hand to serve up for company. (See the sticker on the box? They were  $1.94 at Walmart and by buying two, you got $1.50 off...that's about 80% off the second one. I bought four and will save the extra coupons for the next time I buy them.)

Anyway.

Not only is this super cheap, super easy, and super yummy, it makes your home smell like heaven while it's baking. I surprised my Rock n' Roll Buddy yesterday when I woke up early and made one for breakfast.

Mmmm Perfect with a big glass of cold milk while watching the football pre-game show.

Day Seven. Teeny tiny touches add charm.

But first, my weekly words to live by....
You don't need to have huge pumpkins, dried leaves and cornshucks in every nook and crannie to show some seasonal spirit. Quite the opposite.
Don't ever underestimate the power of the little details around the house for adding charm. A simply mini pumpkin or two on a shelf add a nice little seasonal touch.

Day Seven. Teeny tiny touches add charm.

But first, my weekly words to live by....
You don't need to have huge pumpkins, dried leaves and cornshucks in every nook and crannie to show some seasonal spirit. Quite the opposite.
Don't ever underestimate the power of the little details around the house for adding charm. A simply mini pumpkin or two on a shelf add a nice little seasonal touch.

Day Six. Create a charming first impression.

They say that you never get a second chance tp make a first impression, and that holds true for the appearance of the outside of our homes.

Seasonal warmth on the front porch, (or anywhere in the front yard of your home) takes very little time, and doesn't need to break the bank.(Oh! And my favorite tip...sweep your porch often...scattered leaves, and cobwebs take away from anything you are trying to accomplish.)

You have seen my adirondack chairs, nestled amongst a scattered bunch of pumpkins (Some faux, and some real) and in the photos here, I am sharing my daughter's porch.
Some mums, a basket of faux sunflowers on the door, an old wagon, and pumpkins are all that are needed to finish off the perfect Autumn vignette.
Who wouldn't smile, and look forward to crossing the threshold of this door to see what charm is hidden inside?

Day Five. Candlelight is SO under rated.

One of the many, many reasons that I am crazy for fall is that I love candlelight. When the days grow short, I like having candles in all of the rooms of the house.

First of all, it is just so romantic.

(And I am all about romance.)

And, I think we all look cuter (more cute?) by candlelight.

(Anyway I know I do.)

Walking into a room lit by flickering candlelight, I am immediately overcome with with a sense of warm peacefulness that washes over me, and  just begs me to linger. To slow down and just...be. Does that make sense to you?

Candles provide a charming atmosphere, and they cost just pennies. I keep a basket of tea light candles and votives (both scented and unscented)on hand all year long.

Try taking a bubble bath by candle light. So relaxing.

And spa-like.

And how about in the guest bath when you have company? It adds a soft glow, and a yummy fragrance.

A simple votive candle between two place settings at the kitchen counter turn an ordinary grab-a-quick-bite into a romantic-supper-for-two and you just might find yourselves chatting right there for an hour and half before you realize you haven't turned on the television. (Partially 'coz you both just look so darned cute by candle light.)

I think that's a whole lotta charm for next to nothing.

Day four....think outside the bread basket.

..or...the cracker tray.

Whatever.

The point I am trying to make is this: you can make any meal extra special (and charming, and memorable...) by taking an extra two minutes when preparing the table...or lunch tray...or counter top.

Tonight we were busy, and had planned on both grabbing our own suppers while running errands. It turned out we both ended up home within fifteen minutes of each other...earlier than either of us thought we would.

I grabbed some canned chili outta the pantry (I like Stag Brand myself when I buy canned. I managed to forget the cheddar cheese and diced onions for this quick photo-op. Dang it.) and, while it was heating up in the microwave, I grabbed my thrifted lap trays and corn on the cob holders.
It turns out that stoneware corn on the cob holders are exactly the most perfect sized little individual cracker tray to go along side a big ol' bowl of chili.

Instant charm.

On a shoestring.

Gotta love that.

Day Three. Chillin' with charm.

Still on the thrifted serving piece kick from yesterday. (Well, you know I am all about presentation.)

So, yeah.

Water.

It should be charming too.(Why not?)

Anyway, I think so.

And, I think friends and family feel special when they come over and I have my apothecary topped bottle of chilled H2O (with a couple slices of lemon and a strawberry wedge for flavor) on the table to refresh us as needed.

I found mine at the GoodWill about a year ago, but I see them there often. Another great water (or juice, or whatever beverage you enjoy) server is to use a carafe, which is another readily available thrift store item. (Remember these from the last baby shower I shared?)
Usually a buck is all it takes to make one of these babies your own, so we should all be enjoying the fabulousness of pretty chilled drink containers.

Trust me, your friends will smile (and so will you!) when you serve your water this way.

I may be alone on this one, but I even smile when I look at it in the fridge.

Day two. Let's all thank God for Thrift Stores. (aka the Frugal Girl's Anthro-Pottery-Restoration Barn.)

And yard sales.

Oh! And Craigslist.

Why? Because without other people's discards, I wouldn't have all of the amazing entertaining-slash-serving-pieces and funky-and-fabulous-home-decor items that are an integral part of creating a charmed life (on a shoestring, of course.).

(Can I get an Amen?)

For me, part of living a charmed life is surrounding myself with unique and charming little treasures that make every day feel special.

Without costing a small fortune.

By keeping my eyes peeled when I'm out thrifting, I can score some over-the-top-some-kind-of-wonderful items that make our home look extra special, uniquely personalized, and welcoming.

Some of my favorite-gotta-have-'ems-easy-to-find items are:
Pilsner Glassess: So much more more "special" than drinking a beer from a bottle or can. (We have oodles of them, all in the freezer so they are frosty on demand for any beverage...pictured above are my favorite style, fresh outta the fridge.)Oh! And for what it's worth, there's nothing yummier (more yummy?) than a frosty cold glass of strawberry lemonade.

I promise you will find at minumum, two matching Pilsner glasses on any given day at any Thrift Store in the good ol' U S of A.
Bread Boards: I just love the look of them stacked against the backsplash in my kitchen, but having various sizes is extra nice. I like using my small one on the kitchen counter between the two of us for holdng out bread and butter when we have big ol' chicken salads for dinner.
Picnic Baskets: Oh yeah. These are my secret storage containers, and you'll find them in several rooms of our nest. (My favorite is probably the one in the bathroom, which hides extra rolls of toilet paper.)
Mirrors: (Ignore my bad photo attempt and trust me that these mirrors make the room!) Oh my, where to begin. I swear I could buy a fantastic mirror on each and ever trip to a thrift shop. There are always mirrors of pretty much any size you might need, and usually for next to nothing. Look beyond a faux wood (1980's plastic) or brassy gold finish. These are hidden treasures. There is no surface that cannot be painted and weathered and made into a masterpiece! Remember this.
White stoneware: Old, or new, or new-that-looks-old, you can always find some kind of white dished or serving pieces. White is classic, so, even if you are a color person, having white pieces is a great idea to have handy. They go with virtually everything. Classic.

Perfection, really.

I am at a loss for which book it is in, but somewhere in the old testament, I am pretty sure there is a passage that reads,"And on the second day, right after God made Eve, he created a thing of pure, timeless beauty, called white stoneware.")

Did I mention picnic baskets?
Maybe I did, but thye bear repeating. Storage folks. And, you can paint them any color you like, so they will always match your decor.

Take time to browse through the fancy-schmancy catalogues that land in your mailbox, or check the sites out online...then...hit the thrifting trail. Thrift Stores, yard sales and Craigslist will have something you want (and possibly need!) for pennies on the dollar, and I guarantee the item will have more personality and originality than the mass produced items in the Yuppie shops.

Now, go! Go get your thrift on, and let me know what diamond in the rough you find. I'm excited to hear about it (and I know you'll feel all warm and fuzzy every time you look at your new treasure!)

Let's get this party started.

Let me start by saying that my Title for this series, 31 days to create a charmed life on a shoestring, isn't accurate.

Nope.

The truth is we can all live a charmed life in one day, by just changing our attitudes about the way we view our lives.

Trust me here, I know what I'm talking about. Finding myself suddenly single after just shy of three decades catapulted me into a new life. Just a few weeks before my big five-oh birthday, not only was I nursing a very slow healing broken heart, (while learning to live solo for the first time in my entire life) but my very comfortable financial lifestyle plummeted drastically as well.

But wait, There's more!

About the time I was feeling decently recovered from this first big life change, I found myself being laid off from my career job. (adding insult to injury was being laid off as of New Years Eve that year. Try to feel merry and bright after being told that news.)

Oh, and I went through menopause and my dog died.

(I know, it sounds like like it could have been a big hit country-western song, right?)

You can't make this stuff up, people.

Anyway.

I realized, pretty early on actually, (and I have shared here on my blog more than once) that I wasn't the one driving the bus. I wasn't in control of anything in life.

Nothing...except for...my attitude. I could choose to be consumed with worry, and depression, or I could choose to count my blessings and be grateful.

I know, it sounds like a no-brainer, but here's the thing, it's a much easier decision to choose joy over worry, fear, and a decent sized slice of anger when you're simply reading about it here in print. In real life, it's a lot harder.

Times are tough, jobs are scarce and money is squeaky tight. Some of us have lost our homes, and some of us are battling with health situations. It's hard to let go of the worry, and the anger, and the fear. Funny thing is, once you're in the middle of a pity party, it's hard to leave.(Have you felt that way before?)

Hard, yes, but not impossible. The important thing to remember here is - Whatever it is, pitying yourself will not solve it. Once you choose gratitude, oh my! Whatch out.

So, that brings me to this series.

I want to help some folks get to the next chapter in their life. (As I already said, I know life is sometimes hard, but turn the page! The story gets betta!) And, if you're already in a good spot in your life, I hope this series brings you new inspiration. More frosting on your cake. ...And who doesn't want more frosting on their cake? (I know I do.)

Check back tomorrow for my next instllment of 31 Days.