What is Your Decorating Style?

 Hi Everyone,
                
            We have had some Beautiful spring like weather this past week.
            My head knows it's still winter but my heart is in the garden!!!!!



                                            What is your Decorating Style?

                    Traditional, Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Victorian, Industrial, Farmhouse, Shabby Chic, Romantic Country, Country, French Country, English Country...
                                              No wonder we're all confused!!!!!!
          I think I've wrestled with this question for quite some time. I've been asking myself this question a lot these past few weeks. I want to redecorate our living room and dining room. One of those areas of our new townhouse that I just can't seem to get right. The townhouse has an open concept..... Living room, dining room, and kitchen all one room. Help!!! I want my walls back!

        So how do we discover our style?
There are so many things that influence us.....HGTV, magazines. books, friends and family. However for all those outside influences {some good-some bad}I have come to realize I always return to one style in particular. For me it's English Country. I have wavered many times through the years but I always seem to return to what I believe is truly my style. I am not a purist. I like to mix a piece or two of a different style. Something as simple as a French chair or a Victorian foot stool. It makes a room more interesting. Adding a few different pieces creates a room that looks like it evolved over time.
A look I just love.
         How do I know that English Country is truly my core style?
Because no matter what is going on in the world of decorating I always choose English country. It's those rooms that jump off the page at me when I'm searching a magazine or book... It's the comfortable feeling I get when I walk into the room....It's everything about the English style, the colors, the lines of the furniture, the plates hung on the wall, the botanicals.
It makes my heart sing! It makes me feel comfortable. It makes me feel happy.
                                         But most importantly it feels like home.
When you decorate with what you love it feels right because it makes your heart sing!!!!!
                                                  
                                                               -Sue-

A Touch of Spring

                                                       

Valentine's Day

Hi Everyone!


                    Tomorrow is Valentine's Day!

     I decided to do something special for Phil and bake his favorite chocolate cake. After all, celebrating Valentines Day means having the best chocolate dessert ever! It's a day when we say the heck with the diet, who cares how many points and so what if I gain back the two pounds I just lost. It's a time to indulge in one of life's little pleasures....Chocolate Cake!!
    
     This chocolate cake has been in our family for years. A girlfriend of Phil's boss brought the cake as a hostess gift around 1980 or so. It was frozen wrapped in aluminum foil. Her instructions were to defrost and to serve with whipped cream or iced cream. I served the cake for our family a few days later. We all were shocked at just how delicious it was. I requested the recipe and the rest is history as they say. That chocolate cake that looked quite ordinary became  the family birthday cake for years to come. To this day, I have only one request on our son's birthdays...To bake the Chocolate Cake...

     I have shared this recipe with countless friends and family. I think it must have gone around the world a few times by now.

                                                   
                                          
                                                        Chocolate Cake
                                                                10 servings

                                1   Duncan Hines Devils Food Cake mix
                                1    instant chocolate pudding mix
                                4    large eggs
                                1    pint sour cream  [16 oz.]        
                               1/2  cup vegetable oil
    Place all ingredients in large bowl of standing mixer. With mixer on low blend until just combined. Turn mixer to high speed and beat for 4 minutes.  Bake for 45-60 minutes.  Test after 45 min. Cool Cake for 15 minutes before turning onto serving plate. 
Dust with powered sugar.  Serve with fresh whipped cream or ice cream.
Enjoy!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day Phil!!! Love you!


                                                         Sue

                     


                        

                    




                                  

Treasured Pieces

Happy Friday!
 
     I'm really looking forward to the weekend! We're traveling to New York tomorrow to visit the grandkids. My very favorite thing to do!!! This weekend is also Super Bowl Sunday. I'm sure Phil will watch the game while I read. The sound of the football game on T.V. actually puts me to sleep. Lol!!!

     Today I thought I'd talk about those special treasures that are passed down from one generation to another.

      Perhaps it's your Grandmother's or Mother's china or silver, or a piece of furniture, a painting or something as ordinary as a piece of cookware. Big or small, expensive or ordinary they are passed down because they are important. Whatever it is it was something that was loved and treasured and they trusted you to love it as they did. Many of these treasures are rich in history. But they are all rich in memories as they remind us of that special person that gave them to us.

     Yesterday I decided to change the centerpiece on the dining room table. I change the centerpiece often for the holidays and seasons. The townhouse is an open plan so the table is center stage.
I decided to use an ironstone soup tureen filled with greens. I thought it would be a nice winter touch for the room. This soup tureen was passed down to me from my Aunt Sara. She gave it to me when she moved into an apartment after my Uncle Jack passed away. I remember how this soup tureen sat on her dining room table for as long as I can remember. It was a gift from my Uncle Jack for a wedding anniversary. She treasured this beautiful antique.
     I was so touched that she would trust me with something that meant so much to her. I have taken good care of this gift through the past 10 years. It moved with us twice, but each time I hand carried it. I wouldn't trust the movers. It was way too important. 

    Yesterday I decided to take the tureen from the kitchen and give it a place of honor on the dining room table. I love the way it looks!! It makes me smile because I'm sure Aunt Sara would approve.

    Maybe you have some treasures passed down from a special person. Take them out of the closet, basement or attic and give them a place of honor in your home.
     Trust me they will make you smile!!
                                                                                                                     Sue