Dreamin'

Sometimes dreams seem a little lofty, but they are still there.

Do you have dreams? Aspirations? Goals?

Sure you do. You're human. Even if you dream that the dishes would do themselves, you have a dream (a lofty one, sure, but still a dream).

Do you take steps towards those dreams?

The difference between the dreamers and the doers is that: doing. Sacrifice. Mistakes. Getting knocked down and trying again. Shaking off that dust and moving forward.

"Dusty roads mean dirty feet." -Sara Watkins

I have ideas of what I want to do with my life (dreams). I have aspirations (ultimately, work for myself). And that takes sacrifice. I work longer hours. I work at one job that I don't like so much. I try new things- some work, some don't.

So here I am on this unsuspecting Tuesday morning, thinking and dreaming. I have another full day ahead (of stuff and work that I don't really want to do). But I will also have a few evening hours to create, design, write, and promote. I will have a choice! Television or invest in my dreams. "Chill out" or invest in my dream. Even goof off! or invest in my dream.

Make it happen.




What dreams are you pursuing? Are you making sacrifices to get there?

Vintage Apron Window Decor

I have always loved the style of the 1940s and 1950s. For my bridal shower years ago, my mother listed on the invitation for guests to wear heels and pearls to the shower. It was a surprise bridal shower for me. She had been secretly collecting vintage aprons. When the guests arrived, they got to complete their 1950s housewife look! I walked in to a room of heels, pearls, and aprons!

I have had those aprons for over a decade now. In a few apartments, I hung them all on hooks above my washer and dryer (I could at least look at the vintage aprons and appreciate that the chore I dislike most is easier now than it once was). I thought of different ways to display them. Sometimes I even wore them (I have my real kitchen apron- I don't want to ruin the vintage ones!).

In our new place, we have space. I love the space, it inspires. In the kitchen, I decided to finally make use of the aprons:

My dining set is also "vintage." The table belonged to my great-grandmother.

I could never decide which apron was actually my favorite.

Gingham! Rickrack! Polka dots! All of the vintage!

I pinned the aprons to the curtain rod, creating a valance out of the past. I also used my Fiesta wear mugs as plant holders (I am still in the process of plant-collecting, so they aren't all used, yet.). 

Fiesta-wear as plant holders. A perfect compliment to vintage aprons!

I love to walk into my kitchen. The colors spark the space and it makes me smile. And I am glad I finally found a way to display my aprons!

Cheers to Generations!

I have been in the process of moving and settling into a new place. While in some ways it has been exhausting work, in other ways, it has been freeing. I have been able to purge unwanted stuff. I am now in a better house and the layout is inspiring. I discovered some forgotten stuff. Like painted plates.

I found buried in a box some fragile, hand-painted ceramic plates that my great-grandmother painted. She painted ceramics and canvas and had her pieces throughout her house. I loved to visit that West Texas house, a pale yellow structure resting on the rugged, rolling plains. Pulling these pieces out immediately flooded me with memories of my great-grandmother, trips to West Texas, and visiting family.

This is one of my favorite pieces of my great-grandmother's work.

Dogwood was Nonnie's favorite flower.

I love the vibrancy of this bird.

Amazing detail!

Nonnie's signature on her painted pieces included a "V" and "A" for her initials.

Nonnie grew up the eldest of eleven children. They made a life on the nearly-barren landscape of West Texas. She loved to read and dreamed of going to college. She didn't quite make it that far in her formal education, but she passed down her creativity to her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Do great-grandmothers realize their impact on the future? Mine certainly impacted me.

I know today is Fathers Day, but I think in a bigger sense, it is a day we can appreciate past generations and how they have impacted who we are and who we have become (and even, who we will be as we continue to grow). Dads, granddads, great-grandmothers: they all have impacted our lives in one way or another. Cheers to generations!