Happy New Year!

The end of another year.  Days are too short.  Life too swift.  Too uncertain.  Too precious to not want to live it to its fullest.  Like the stories of some magical book, life unfolds.  Each page differently.  Each page created as we read.  Pages chock-full of adventures, good and bad.  Love, betrayal, secrets, and suspense leading up to a larger reveal.  A book read too fast if you ask me... its pages turned too quickly and many a time not fully understood, or enjoyed to the utmost.  We remember specifically happy scenes of previous chapters, and we want to flip those pages back, read them again, live those moments that had so beautifully captivated us again and again, but the end it's yet to be read.  We must continue reading till we reach the end of that book that it is our life.  I am frightened by what I may encounter in those pages ahead, what ghosts must I meet, what waters must I cross... frightened by those goodbyes I must say as I read and compose the book of my life...  I want the narration beautiful, the chapters sweet and long and the story to unwind like numbers in a combination lock, with a subtle intricacy giving way to a conclusion that will forever leave me in awe.  Oh, I know I'm not alone on this.  Ordinary people may see only a hopeless end, but the true Christian knows best... we rejoice in an endless hope.  Even if the chapters in the book of our lives are not coming to fruition as we might had expected to, or dreamed of, or wished for.  Ah yeah, at the end, we'll be alright! 

“I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.”  ~ Billy Graham

Happy New Year, friends!

The eclectic gallery art wall

The sun was out today.  The earth got bathed in gold dust.  Sunshine illuminated every crevice and nook in my little world; warming up the earth and making the birds sing a new song.  My heart, too, was illuminated in its wonderful, magical warmth and brilliancy, and I went out and enjoyed a little joyfulness in the garden.  My spirit was immediately lifted up, my brain inspired, my body invigorated and I felt this wonderful, crazy idea of doing something wild and wonderful and the first thing that went through my mind was to redo my favorite room in our little white cottage in a happy, over-the-top whatever style that is filled with flowers and color...

Pillows went flying down the floor, sheets, rugs, decorations everything was tossed around and moved, and out came all those canvases and arts I've been collecting for many years of unknown artists and creative souls out there wherever I go...  little by little the emptied white walls came alive, colors, shapes, textures and more now fill every corner and more.  You encouraged me to love my magical unicorn and bring him back.  And thus, I did brought him in too, and I cannot love him more now because I've been totally enchanted by him and I adore him.  He's beautiful, and magical and I don't know exactly how long I will keep this room as is right now, because it is busy, and overpowering, and my brain seeks rests sometimes.  But for now I'm loving it all... 

So many pictures I didn't know which to chose!  What do you think? Like it?  We will be traveling again soon to spend time with dear ones during the holidays.  My comfort and coziness I'll leave here at our little white cottage for a few days until we come back.  I take with me love, and words of encouragement, faith and the guarantee of the sweet providence of God.  And to all of you my dear friends and readers I wish you all the best of blessings.  May this Christmas mark another period of joy, peace, and love in your life.

 Merry Christmas, everyone!

Winter at the little white cottage

I must had been born a hermit... no, I am an old she-bear buried deep down in her cozy little cave, happily hibernating... I don't want to go out, or get dress. Combing my wild mane is out of the question these days... I've told you.  I'm hibernating.  It's been so cold around here!  Cold, cloudy and raining for days.  I think even my breathing and heart rates have slowed down some, and I'm sure my body temperature has dropped too, because I'm always freezing, even inside our cozy little cottage I'm always freezing...

 

I have stopped visiting the gardens as often, and only go out from time to time during our short days, and always clad in my warm nightgowns and rain boots... 

If it wasn't for the Fisherman, who pleads with me that I accompany him to all the social gatherings he's required to go to, I will stay buried here forever and ever... but I must comply with my obligations and thus have been busy attending Christmas parties, and get-togethers almost every weekend and such.  It takes a lot of me to do all these things, but deep down I have to thank my dear husband for helping me out of my shell, 'cause I know how lonesome and sad life could be if one insists on being alone and away from people all the time.  So alas... one must get dress, move on, and get going...

Everything looks so beautiful under this December rained-down light. Mysterious, gray, and quieted in an atmosphere filled with little lights and Christmas songs.  Our little white cottage is a gem and a bright light in the extra dark nights of our lightless neighborhood. Like a fairytale cottage out in a clearing of some magical dark forest... 

   

I'm not burning as much energy as I'm used to these days either... which means I'm not running, or working out as much, which means I'm happily engage in the things I love most... like making our home homier, decorating, changing furniture around, swapping bed linens and decorative pillows... adding one more candle to the tabletop, one more rose on the bull's head. Happy little things that are always so necessary to my heart.

He is a bull you guys... no ram here...

it's all in the horns, really! ;)  

Working on my journal, and embellishing some books...

Tessa wants to redo her bedroom in my favorite colors.  Can you believe it!  She's growing up so quickly, it is almost frightening... so I have bought her a complete bed set for Christmas, and I am now trying it on my bed to see how it will look on hers...  do you like it?

She wants a lot of glitter she says, so I'm thinking I'd need to add some more metallic/gold design pillows...

like these here...

Aren't they pretty!

Oh, and one more pic of our winter little white cottage?  Si?

I hope I haven't bored you with such long post! ;)  Tell me, is is cold in your little world too?  Are you anything like me when it comes to those cold winter days, or are you the type that enjoys being outside?  Do share!

LINKING TO:

MAKE PRETTY MONDAY

Our living room

Today I'm going to show you our small living room, all decorated up for the holidays.  I have to tell you though you'll be surprised to find how simple things are 'round here.  I'm not the 'overdoer' type of a girl on just about anything, and prefer to keep my decor low-key when it comes to Christmas decorating.  I do love to get into the holiday spirit, but without going over the top.  Small lights are my favorites, and I use them all year around.   I have a medium-sized Christmas tree in the living room that I have decorated it using only clear lights, pinecones I collected from the woods and some burlap trims.  Simple, yet elegant.

A small Christmas tree sits in the kitchen area, where I also tried to keep holiday decorating simple, inexpensive and festive, as you've seen HERE.  I am only using a few baubles there, a vintage plate filled with Christmas ornaments in gold, cherubs and some little vases with greenery in it to bring in the organic look I so love...  But that's it.  So, let go to the living room shall we!

As you can see, it is only this unpretentious Christmas tree, a plump white vase filled with branches, holiday poinsettias and some Christmas ornaments in the coffee table... and of course, this super adorable, magical Santa's little helper here!

I adore this little elf with leafy wings!  Part elf, part fairy!  I found him at a thrift store a couple of years ago and immediately became my 'baby' every since...  He lights up the entire room with that smile and red shoes.   He's just so festive!  

He brings a smile to my face every time I see him.   An African carved wooden plate filled with gold ornaments adds to the Christmas decor and compliments the gold touches around the living room

Just the normal everyday decor on the table facing the windows

 Love the  little royal blue table for a pop of color on that corner... 

Remember the coffee table I had in our living room a while back?  

Pretty, and perfect, I know.  But I knew it didn't really go with the modern vibe I had going in there.  I knew exactly what I wanted: a hand-wrought iron, tempered glass table with an antiqued gold-painted finish.  Any of the coffee tables found at One Kings Lane or West Elm website had been a dream come true to me.  Of course, less the $2,000 they cost.  You know me.  I'm that frugal type of a gal who believes that wise spending, DIY, contentment and simplicity go hand in hand when making a cheerfully live on less home...  so I waited. 

Then one day a few months ago I finally found the perfect coffee table I'd been looking for at a thrift store... unloved, dirty, glass covered in adhesive tape, but it was large, square, modern, monochrome, beveled glass top and only 12.00.    

Nothing you couldn't fix with some water, soap and metallic paint!  The last step was removing all the grime and tape adhesive from the mirror with a little bit of vegetable oil on a cloth and lots of patience.  Then, magic unfolded!

Next, was the area rug.  I love the area rug I had there, but thought it was too small.  I wanted a Killdeer Gray/Off-White area rug like the ones I'd seen in Wayfair, or a Tuscan Moroccan Shag, but didn't want to pay the high cost.  I am lucky, because down the hill a little farther down our subdivision there's a little place where the owners sell repos and brand-new overstock from top selling stores and big box companies for a discounted price.  They got it all from household items, clothing, furniture, you name it.  I couldn't believe the amount of beautiful, large area rugs they brought in the other day... I bought two.  This one here in our living room cost me only $10.00.  It was a little stained on the corners, but perfectly clean now.

I love this space so much!  The amount of light we get here in the early morning is amazing.  It is like an enchanting little place where light, whites, blacks and golds play a happy tune with your heart...

That's it!  I hope you enjoyed strolling through! ;)  How do you decorate for the holidays?  Do you like to go overboard with it or are you a minimalist too?  Do share!

LINKING TO:

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS TOUR