staying focused on the good stuff....

So many days out of the week while I work away on things like cleaning, yard work and other chores, I tend to notice all that is left to do.  All of the corners that need cleaning, all of the cupboards that need organizing and walls that need painting.  I thought for today, I would find every photo of our living space that makes me feel good about our home, yard and overall living space, to help me stay focused on the positive.

Do you tend to notice all of the needs and problem spots in your space too or am I alone in this?

I think grateful living is an incredible gift to give ourselves in the midst of struggles, work and all of the negative we have an incredible option to think of the positive and remember every little bit of good we have been given in life.

What better way to keep a smile on your face and have a happy perspective?

Hoping you all have an incredible weekend and take time to see the good stuff too!

xoxo

Love,

~dee

pretty little one...

We may not have a lot of big cities in North Carolina but we do have a few pretty little towns/cities that make my heart  feel at home and fill my off days with a bit of fun.

Waxhaw, NC is one of those cities. It is small but full of character, little delicious eateries and coffee spots, along with numerous art galleries, antique malls, used book stores, playgrounds and a skate-park for the kids.

I had the pleasure of going to Waxhaw twice this past week and fully enjoyed the feeling of a getaway to this lovely, quaint town.

So thankful for every ounce of pleasure I find here in the South.

I am really learning that no matter what you are going through in life it is always better to try and find the positives and focus on them.  That is what makes life hopeful and good.

Hoping you can find the best in where you are today.

Happy Thursday!  (Its almost the weekend, friends!!)

love,

~dee

xoxo

colour therapy for my down days....

I am not really sure what it is about shades of pink and yellow that cheer my soul when I am feeling sorry for myself but they lighten my heart and bring a smile to my face.

So I got to work yesterday and gathered up my camera...went about my day finding as many things to shoot with these colours in them as I could. 

If you are like me, I hope these work for you too.

Happy Wednesday!

May your day be filled with colourful goodness.

xo

love,

~dee

summer is flying by way too fast....

(a photo of my vintage clock from Toronto)

so far it was filled with:

family 

friends

gardening

housework

photography

driving kids to camps

dates with my love

art

praying

reading

walks

bike rides

diet

potty training Bella

teaching teens to be great adults (and all the pain and struggles included)

occasional day and weekend trips

packing 

fixing

organizing

removing clutter from our lives

blogging

facebook

stress

These are the things filling my days and nights and soon summer will be over....

I wish I could have listed:

sold house

vacation to Vancouver, BC

trip to NYC and Nova Scotia

move to the mountains

I am not going to cry over time flying by but I am going to keep working towards each of the things that we haven't yet accomplished.

Happy Summer!

Make the most of it!

xo

luv,

~dee

thoughts for thursday...

I am loving all the little moments with my kiddos this morning, like sharing kids' caramel coffees (Which are really just steamed milks...shhh...Bella doesn't know.  She thinks she is a grown up having coffee with me.)

Bella has been picking up her little paintbrushes every time I decide it is time to start a new piece myself.  Which over the next few weeks I will be working a lot on painting while getting ready for the Indie Craft Parade in Greenville, SC.  What an incredible way to spend time with my little one.  She loves painting and so do I.  It may be a little difficult to concentrate while she is near but I love every moment of her being by my side.

We have built towers, played with play dough, played with stuffies, kissy faced, snuggled, read stories, painted and drank kids' coffee along with a gazillion other things together and I have to say I savour every moment we have together.

Funny that it took having 4 children before I realized the importance of cherishing our time together and not just passing by each other as I go about my chores.

I love the sound of her little baby voice, the way the older kids sound as they play with her and bubbly giggles.  I love the way I still get to play like a kid and no one suspects that I would still like to play with play dough and build block towers even if she was all grown up.  I love it so much when she looks up and tells me she loves me.

Every moment that makes up life with our kiddos is cherished in my heart as something amazing and worth so very much to me.

Here's hoping you will cherish the little moments and thoroughly enjoy your Thursday to the full.

Love,

~dee
(Excuse my i Phone hipstamatic addiction lately.  It is such an easy, quick way to capture moments.  These photos were done with the helga lense, normal flash and 69 Ina's film.  A little fuzzy but fun nonetheless.)

playful living...

via here!

I am not sure what it is about moving to NC that makes me feel like I am gypsy living or in limbo but no matter how many times I change things and play with the way I arrange and rearrange things in our home it doesn't have that playful yet homey feel I had back in Canada.

It may be the lack of fun items at a reasonable rate in the 2nd hand stores here or the fact that for the first time in my life I am living in a tract home instead of a historical home, which was pretty much all I knew of before now but whatever it is, I have a hankering for some fun, playful, creative living ideas.

So coming upon this blog was super refreshing for my tired eyes.

Hoping you love her blog as much as I do!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

You all make me smile too!

Wishing you fun!

xo

luv,

~dee

a few things i feel grateful for....

new to me vintage campus fryes from etsy....

this patient, handsome, loving guy...

 this cute little reason for still getting to play at playgrounds...

local deli sandwiches...

 and even for some tears of sadness because they make me appreciate all the happy times even more.

It hasn't been an easy weekend or week for that matter but seriously...

these are just a few of the things from it that I am thankful for....

there are many more.

Thanks Rain and others for your encouragement and making me think of all the good stuff life offers.

Happy new week, friends!

Hope you have loads of things to feel grateful for too.

xoxo

Love,

~dee

fragments of our week...

 

I chopped off my hair and I like it.  (I did it myself...shhhh)

a picnic with my love on his lunch break...

little chats in the shade of our willow tree...

 watermelon and coconut Italian ices from the ice cream truck on a super hot day

and inspiration to tidy up my bag because Becca's was immaculate!

What's in my bag?

1. wallet from Target to keep all my cards and id in place
2. coin purse to hold all of the jingly change I collect
3. Burt's Bees lip balm
4. comb for the humidity that makes my hair stick to my head here in the South
5. iPhone and ear piece so I don't have a collision or hit someone while I drive and chat (I hate it when people talk on their mobile phones and don't pay attention to the road. They have no idea of the harm they are capable of.)
6. sunglasses to make me look good when I get very little sleep...I mean to keep the sun out of my eyes
7. key chain and keys... the wooden one was made by my dad...pretty cool, right?!....the Canada one was from my sisterly boo and the matt & nat leather made in Montreal was from a friend in Vancouver who owns a funky little housewares shop
8. a good book for waiting places so I stay patient and calm

Feel free to share what's in your bag and what filled up your week.

We would love to hear from you all.

Happy weekend, everyone!

xoxo

love,

~dee

a little local luvin'

(the awesomely fun staff...er gang at Salvador Deli)

If you are craving a casual getaway in Charlotte, NC complete with delicious panini style grilled sandwiches and a huge selection of beverages, friendly staff and live music on most weekends, the Salvador Deli is an excellent choice located in the midst of our Arts' district.

Happy Wednesday to ya!!

xo

Love,

~dee