Shabby Chic

Take a look at what's cookin at Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic store.  I dream of owning one of her couches!  Perhaps someday it will be in my budget :)

Following are my favorite things Shabby Chic!

Would so love to own this chaise!

Broken in comfort....love it!

This couch is my DREAM COUCH!!!

The Darcy Chair - another signature of Rachel's collection.  Love it!

The Pottery Barn

Look at what the Pottery Barn has!  These are some of my favorite things.  I just had to post them :)

I so love slip cover styled couches.

Love these pillows :)

Great grouping of candle holders and all things tweet.

Glass bottles are so gorgeous, especially when grouped together.

Tweet, tweet!

Love these vintage looking keys!

See the keys on the wall here?

What a fantastic dining room chandelier!  Whoda thunk?

Love the desk set up, but not large enough for me :)

Candle holders...gotta have 'em!

A perfect door mat - charm galore!

Love these light fixtures.

I love the Pottery Barn...very warm decor.  Had to share :)

Thankful

Thank you to my very dear and special friend Martha.  Today she sent me this wonderful email about joy.  I so loved this quote:

"Within me is everything I need to experience lasting joy!"

...that's me on the left and Martha on the right :)

The article also reminded us that regardless, of what is happening externally in our lives, it's important we always remember that happiness is a choice.  Also, making quiet time for ourselves is so crucial - a time to reflect!  Thanks for sharing this article Martha!  I'm so thankful you're in my life and I treasure you girl!  :)

The past few weeks have been so eye opening for me.  God has really placed people in my life that teach me so many things.  It's taken me 40 years to realize that yes life is a constant struggle, but what we deem is good or bad isn't always just that.  It's easy to spend precious time and years chasing "things" that we think define us and are deemed important by society and our world.  I'm so looking to forward to really making the second half of my life count for something more.  Looking beyond and outside of myself.  It's crazy how bombarded we are by "things" we are told we need. We can so create the struggle.  The real beauty and magic in life is in the authentic relationships we have with others.  The love we give and recieve on a daily basis.  Opening ourselves up, sharing, being vunerable and not hiding who we are. Growth is a painful process that we fear when we're going through it and then we discover the lesson and the beauty that God was trying to give to us through the process.  It's like the butterfly fighting to break free from the cocoon.  The struggle is what creates the butterfly to be strong enough to emerge and fly out of the cocoon.  Life is so magical and so beautiful.  I've learned to live in the now and it's amazing!  I no longer fear the what ifs.  I know I can handle whatever God has prepared for me to endure.  It's part of the plan for my life :)  I'm so thankful for all of it :)

"To love means never to be afraid of the windstorms of life; should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the beauty of the carvings."  - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Must Haves!

I am IN LOVE with this ruffled chair slip cover...it truly makes my heart skip a beat!

THE URNS...love 'em!!!

I have discovered this blog / store...Curious Sofa in Kansas City...what a find!  Check it out!

I also LOVE these slip covers! Found this on Shelly Beson Designs.