A Friend's Walk-In Closet

She says it's like going shopping every day when she's getting ready for work. 

Her home is for sale. 

Chester Township NJ - MLS # 3253972

New Dog at My Cottage

He doesn't eat much, is very quiet, and he's house broken. Don't you love my new lamp? Found after having lunch with a friend yesterday when we stopped in a shop before I took her back to her marketing director duties at the Westmont Montessori School in Mendham. We stopped at The Grand Bazaar and we both found tons of treasures awaiting us. Next time we are going to pack a lunch and eat it on Sue's porch so we will have more money to spend on Christmas gifts and wonderful things to decorate our cottage homes. My lamp needed a little doctoring because it had just arrived and needed a little help. I was capable of doing the repairs myself and got a good price for adopting him. I love dog rescues of all kinds. Webster would have been happier if this little guy were alive to keep him company when I'm out having fun. Maybe some day. 

Wonderful Round Wood Stacker

This would be great on a covered porch. Shop here.

Prince George, Style Icon

Look out world, here I come!

His outfit by Rachel Riley sold out in sizes 12 and 18 months in fewer than 24 hours. Luckily the wearers will be too young to notice their peers wearing the same smocked outfit. I think Prince George looks adorable and I always love seeing him in action. His baby sister's christening was beautiful and it was so nice seeing the whole family together in their Sunday best. via

Lilly Greed

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When you have time, please read this.

Life Changing $1.00 Purchase

Yep. I have one of these things you see advertised on TV. I've always been curious about whether or not they work and as luck would have it, I found a Stonewave Microwave Cooker unopened in the original box at the church rummage sale for one dollar. I pounced on it and have used it numerous times every day for the past two weeks. The hardest thing for me to do in the winter is to eat green vegetables. This little nuclear cooling tower is perfect for frozen broccoli florets. Arrange as many as you can get in the container and still be able to get the top on snugly. Pop in the microwave for four minutes and they are perfect. Piping hot and not mushy. Dessert? How about a baked apple? Core one and cut it in pieces. Four minutes and it's the best dessert ever. No need to add sugar but some cinnamon is nice. I had broccoli tonight and then I heated up a bowl of chili. Onions are fabulous too. I cooked my chopped onions for the chili in this little thingie with some of my liquid aminios. Delicious. It's super easy to clean too. I have had string beans and peas and spinach, but broccoli is my favorite. I buy it in a big bag with loose pieces that have been flash frozen. The big bags from Costco are Organic. I really have eaten a nice helping of green veggies every day and I couldn't be happier. I want to try fresh cauliflower next. via

I searched all over and Bed and Bath has these cookers for $4.99 each. I'm going to buy two three more so I can keep things hot while something else is cooking. My local store has them in stock and I have a 20% off coupon. The size is perfect for portion control too. If I had heated up the whole pot of chili I might have gone back for seconds. You can top whatever you're cooking with grated cheese, put the top back on, and it melts with no additional microwaving. I think every household should have a set of these. You're welcome. xo

Henry David Thoreau Quote about Minimalism

This quote is new to me and I love it. I learned this lesson at a rather early age. I used to want "things" badly and didn't get them. Later, I found I really didn't want them after all so it was a good thing I didn't get them. I can vividly remember thinking I would die if I didn't get kissing ram gold earrings. They were expensive and I never got a pair and later on I was glad. From that time on, as a young adult, I wasn't that tempted to follow fads because I knew they were fleeting.

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I Love This Ad for L.L.Bean

I have those boots too. via

Antique Metal Leaves from Germany

I saw these on John Derian's Instagram. What a wonderful find. Don't they look real? Not sure what I would do with them but I would love to own them! Available in his shop.

A Sheep and A Selfie

Not far from me is a house with a barn in the front yard and a few sheep. This one posed nicely for me.

I was happy when leaving a small strip mall because I finally found a black bumper for my iPhone for $6.99 at Radio Shack. Yay. So I took a selfie, posing in my outside mirror.

I can't believe it's March, can you? It came in like a lamb and it was an absolutely beautiful day. We'll see if it goes out like a lion at the end of the month. Have a great rest of the weekend. xo

Wonderful clothing label

What size do you wear? Happy medium. Love it. via

HaHa - Good One!

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Antique Acquisition

I attended the last day of a house contents sale recently when the pickings were slim. I walked around several times and found a few treasures and then I spotted this shelf. It was filled with junk for sale and when I asked the price, nobody knew. The boss lady conducting the sale said it was a 'prop' but if I wanted it she would sell it for $8.00. Needless to say, I was thrilled. Just remember, it always pays to ask!

Sock Love.

I love wearing socks like this! via

I bought this for myself

I saw this fabulous KitchenAid coffee maker advertised in New York Magazine the last time I got my hair cut about 6 weeks ago. I came right home and ordered it online for $20 less than the manufacturer's suggested retail and it arrived the very next day from The Home Depot. It makes 2 perfect 9oz. cups of coffee and has one of those "gold" permanent filters so there's no guilt about adding anything to the landfill except for some coffe grounds which can go into the compost pile. It is fabulous! The coffee is HOT too, just the way I like it. I heat up some unsweetened soy milk in a small pan on the stove so as not to cool it down one bit. I don't drink it from the travel mug style pot. I prefer my favorite ceramic cup that holds exactly the right amount. I tend to get distracted on the computer with my morning blogging so I like for my first few sips to be super hot. The thermal brewing cup keeps my second cup nice and hot until I'm ready for a refill. If I wait too long, I zap it in the microwave once I pour it into my own cup for about 30 seconds. I'm a real snob about a hot cup of coffee. The water reservoir has markings for 8 oz., 12 oz., 16 oz. and Max. for 18 oz. I always use Max. This is not an advertisement - I just wanted to share my latest present to myself with you. I have a single-cup Keurig I will be taking to the office for my colleagues to enjoy.

A visual essay about not shopping.

Open publication

Click on the link and read this wonderful essay (full size) about not shopping for one whole year called 'A Bunch Of Pretty Things I Did Not Buy' -- a small visual essay about not shopping. It's very insightful about on-line shopping. I loved it.

Ikea Rocks

via I haven't been to Ikea is ages. I really like the duvet cover with the alphabet. They have such interesting things. Maybe I'll go next year after the holiday rush. They have great stylists too.

The Aga Range Had a Baby: GaGa Aga

I saw a photo of a baby Aga in a cream color in a lovely kitchen recently and could never locate it again. I did a google image search and found some wonderful information over at Apartment Therapy. This tiny baby range or cooker is made to supplement a larger Aga but the Aga Companion can also be used alone. This baby has already been weaned! At only 24" wide, the Companion is the perfect stove for a small apartment or cottage, yet it still has two ovens and four burners. They're made of cast iron and available in 15 different colors from dark chocolate brown to a bright and vivid turquoise.

I often blog about these Aga cookers to great response. I think this is the best thing I've read about in ages, don't you? It's dual fuel too. I want this baby!!!

I ordered a Trygger iPhone Case w/ Polarizing Filter

Every now and then I see a great idea that needs backing prior to production on Kickstarter. Unfortunately I did not learn about this fabulous invention when it started out at the $35 backer level. I jumped in at $40 (with free shipping) and have only 17 days to go before the emails go out to choose preferred color. I'm going to get a white one. The sliding panel on the back has a wheel-operated polarizing filter to keep out glare. I honestly have been trying to invent something like this myself with all of my old Nikon filters from the dark ages that are in my camera bag in the closet. Now I won't have to. This will make the awesome camera on my iPhone 4S perfect. 
Disclaimer: I am not making any money on this. I just wanted to share a great find with all of my readers. I cannot wait to get this Trygger Camera Case for iPhone 4/4S!! Click on the link above if you want to become a backer and get yours for less than the final retail price with free shipping in the USA.

Picnic on the Front Porch

Waiting for the parade to go by! I know it's a catalog photo but it's perfect for this Memorial Day porch picnic with watermelon. I love the painted flag from Pottery Barn.