Reviving Romance

Hi everyone!

     Well it is that time of year, isn't it??!!!  With Valentine's just around the corner, romance is in the air.  I must say though, that just because I am single, this does not mean that I avoid the romance that is in the air like the plague.  There are plenty of situations where people are not single, but the romance left long ago.  It is so important to remember, whether you find that you are single or in a relationship, that before we can show love to another, we must first love our self and our own surrounding. :D  So look around, is it time to dust off that chandelier to set a tone that embodies love in your home?  

I encourage you to do this, not to impress anyone else but for YOU!!!  It is so important that you love your own little corner of the world!  How does the old saying go, "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"???  Maybe it is time to take those candle sticks and instead of using them to hold toilet paper, you try replacing them with candles in your favorite scent.  Like I mentioned above, it is by taking the time to love yourself that those around you are also going to feel love...even without having to spend a fortune on boxes of Valentine's candy!! 

You'd be surprised how relaxing just a few small candles can make you feel at the end of a stressful day.  For the ultimate in relation, light quite a few candles and read by candle light.

So you have calmed down at the end of your day with a few candles and a GREAT book!!!  Next, as you strive to revive the romance within you, look to flowers.  There is one thing that my years of living in Europe taught me, and that is you do not have to wait for someone else to give you flowers.  Head to the nearest grocery store and treat yourself.  Like I mentioned a while back in one of my posts, take the time to smell the flowers. 

They can be used as decoration and for instant stress relief!!!  Buying yourself flowers is giving yourself permission to romance you and take time for you!!  So often in this fast paced world we tend to loose sight of ourselves. 

As women especially, it is very easy to put the needs of our families before our own.  So for this Valentine's the best gift you can give yourself is a week, a day, or a moment to revive the romance you feel for yourself...trust me, your whole world will soooo notice!!

So try it, revive the romance and love you feel for yourself and when you do, then something as simple as a sunset will totally take your breath away!!!

What Will Spring Bring???

Hi everyone!

As most of the country asks "what happened to winter," I cannot help but get excited about spring!!!  My fall last march forced me to by pass all of the projects I had planned outside for the spring and summer.  This year, since I have already declared that 2012 WILL be my BEST year EVER, I have projects to catch up on.

 

So as I look at my grandmother's empty potting bench, in desperate need of love & care, I am excited to think of all the potential this diamond in the rough holds!!

After all, with empty pots to fill and young plants just waiting to bring their beautiful flowers into this world, isn't our outside world just an extension of our world inside our house???

 I know that these beauties are going in my "Moonlight Garden".  I read about these once and having been dying to put one in, sooooo...  I started two years ago by putting in white crape myrtles and this year I will add these white hydrangeas and other white flowering plants.  Since my back yard is set up in such a way that one star lit nights it is like sitting in an amphitheater, the white flowers will glow in the moonlight...hence the name "Moonlight Garden."

  

This site on moonlight gardens is a WONDERFUL source for finding plants that will allow you to create this same  effect in your own yard!!!  For me, it is a way to bring peace and clam into my sometimes fast paced and crazy life!!

 As I make all of these internal and external changes in my life, I'll keep sharing.  Who knows, if I can plant one seed of hope into someone's life, then my work here is done!!  :D

Bloom where you are planted!

Hi everyone!

This is one of my favorite sayings!! I combined it with this precious floral design because they seemed such a perfect fit. After all, just because we wear aprons to work, doesn't mean we cannot have fun while we are moving our many mountains!!

Hugs!
Jen

Work in progress & more...

Look at the fruits of my labor!!! Two are flower containers I put together. The German bath tub I have filled with flower seeds, so it is the "work in progress"!! :-) As my new plants grow and bloom I'll post updated photos. I use my small German bath tub to ice down sodas when I have friends over. Since my house is new, I am starting from "ground 0" in terms of putting in flower beds. There are some many wonderful things in the woods surrounding my little cottage and I am trying to incorporate as much of these things as possible.

It is so relaxing and fun!! As I go through this journey I hope you can take the time to stop and smell the flowers with me!!

Hugs!
Jen

Good Morning from Curiosity Cottage

Good Morning World!! :-) As I step out my door this morning and enjoy this BEAUTIFUL spring morning, it seemed only fitting to post a picture of my new hydrangeas. I took a "quiz" on Facebook once that identified "What Kind of Flower are You?"...I was the "Hydrangea." This is so fitting as a start to build my Cottage Gardens. I look so forward to looking back on these initial posts years from now to see how my garden progresses. :-)

I hope that you all enjoy this WONDERFUL day!!!

Hugs!
Jen