Sunday's Supper- A Prayer

     I just wanted to say a prayer for anyone who is reading this Sunday's Supper-a tid-bit of spiritual food. 

I pray that the Lord keeps you from harm this week, and watches over you and yours!  May you feel God's love in a real way, like you've never felt before.  May He reaveal Himself to you thru His love.  I pray that your week is prosperious, in many ways.  Be encouraged, and may you be an encourager to others this week.  Be well, be blessed, and be a blessing.  I pray this for me as well.  AMEN

Quiet Time

     Taking some quiet time on this January day.  Having some coffee while I read my new book that came.   Blogging for Bliss-Crafting your own online Journal.....by Tara Fray  I am creating my blog as I go.....some ramblings of my life blogging.   Lots of Shabby 2 Chic Shoppe ideas for your home, and some items for sale will be on this blog.  My goal is to share some of me with you the reader, and show my love and passion for "home".  I need some creative information, and some "know how" to continue this blog and make it the best blog that I can.  Tara Frey has some wonderful insights with this "on line blogging world" and I'm excited to plop down and swirl thru the pages of her book.  Happy day to you!........Karen

Thankful for my sister.

I just came back from New Hampshire to help with my mother's estate.  Mom passed away December 17th, 2009.  I enjoyed some real quality time with my younger sister (we found each other 20 years ago), and we promised our mother we would stay in touch and grow in our sister-relationship.  We took care of some affairs for the estate, and then just had fun as sisters should.  We got to know each other a bit more.  What a blessing!

Pam and I are the bookends, mom in the middle. 2009

Sunday's Supper-Spiritual Food

It's Sunday- here is a tid-bit to chew on:  Ephesians 4:32 " And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

I'd like to focus on the word  KIND the dictionary has down a long list of words to explain KIND, I will jot down a few: show, or having a gentle nature,-charitable, compassionate, responsive, sympathetic, tender, warm, good tempered, sweet tempered, gentle, indulgent.  Wonderful human traits, given to us by God.  What's even more important I'd like to jot down a couple of words that are the OPPOSITE of KIND here they are:  Harsh, rough, grim, cruel and here's one : inhumane.

I'm compelled to be kind to my brethern, to show kindness to mankind, a neighbor, a stranger, and of course to a family member and friend.  Not for me to "feel" good but to have the recipient feel good and feel loved and feel worthy and to bless them with KINDNESS.

There is a saying "Kindness goes a long way"  well yes it does and it's straight from God's Word.

Be kind, ask the Lord to help you grow in this area, remember even smiling shows kindness and warmth.

Have a blessed week!  Until next time.......

All in a Name.

Shabby-Chic let's take the word apart:

Shabby- being, ill-kept showing signes of wear and tear, scruffy, tattered

Chic- see( fashion): style, vogue see (stylish)- posh, sharp, classy

So Shabby Chic,: the look of things with signs of wear, transformed into a classy, stylish decor.
Much of Shabby Chic furniture is painted.  Take a classic design of traditional or antique furniture that has seen its days....on the outside but functions perfectly....give that piece a "face-lift" with two coats of a cottage white paint and poof....you have a treasure to behold.  Have only one piece of shabby-chic furniture, or furnish your whole home in shabby-chic. (This mirror was in very rough shape, varnish was coming off and dinged and scratched, now its a lovely shabby chic mirror ready to go)

Window Shopping in Boston

So beautiful.  My daughter Kayla took this shot from the outside of a Boston Store front. 

I think I found my personal photographer!

Decor Style, What's Yours?

So what is your decor style for your home?  Do you know?  Do you know the names of some styles?   I was introduced to "country", with a flair of "primitive" about 27 years from a dear friend.  This was her style, and I liked it.  I was just starting to set up home, just married in (1982), and my girlfriend took me to.... yup ...the Christmas Tree Shoppe, I loved what I saw to decorate my new apartment.  I found my style, I found what I liked to see in my home, and what I felt was warm and comforting, and inviting.  Thus began a journey, because of being  newly married and children came within a year  there was a budget to consider while making a home a "home".  The Christmas Tree Shoppes allowed that also what allowed decorating as I like it was crafts.  Back in the 80's, us new mom's crafted alot.  We painted wood tole painting it became our hobby.  Also there was the wreath era and we made wonderful wreaths with beautiful bows.  Such an "80's" decor but yea we were living in the 80's.  All that stuff is gone now.  That's a good thing.

Over the years ones home decor changes (for the most part).  I've now become more "traditional" mixed with "Shabby-Chic"  Ask my frieneds, I love a bright kitchen with punches of color like reds, yellows and black (a french country look, with checks and toile prints) and then my living room is a more traditional look, with oriental rugs, gold and black tones, very warm and (Autumn like).  However, I love my bedroom light and airy, very Shabby-Chic with whites, and  cottage like furniture.  Yes my style has changed as I have been introduced to many classic designes, and I know how to get these classic looks  for  a fraction of the expensive price.

Watch my blog, styles and decor will be shown in pictures I've taken and or other fellow Shabby Chic ladies have taken.    Pictures give one ideas and expose you to what you like and don't like for your home.  I may at times post a piece of furniture which I have rescued from being thrown away  (shabby) and transform that piece to it's (chic-ness).   It may even become available for purchase. 

Home, a place of warmth and comfort.

Just Blogging.

It's Monday morning, a new day, a new week in our first month of 2010!  I know with all that is going on in the world today......and due to the internet, it seems that the world is so much smaller, far away places are closer we are not so removed anymore.  Yes my heart is heavy, and I give it to God.

I have an excitement which I haven't had in awhile ( my mom being ill then passing).  Creative juices are flowing, it's a good feeling.  What's it all about or entailing?  I'm not quite sure yet.  Anyone who knows me knows I have always had a desire for homes, houses, decor but it does not stop there.  I have a great conviction that a "house" must feel like a "home".  What's the difference you ask?  It's "warmth", it's "cozyness", it's that soft snuggle throw that's on the back of the couch just drapped there for you to put over you.  It's the kitchen with chocolate chip cookies in the oven (yes you can have one once in awhile).  It's the coffee pot or tea kettle always ready to go on for company who walkes through the front or back door.  A candle burning, a fire roaring, or in warmer weather, a window opened and the air is blowing in and the curtains are dancing in and out, in a soothing motion, (right now there are 2inch snowflakes swirling around).

So...we will see together how this blog matures.  Thanks for reading.  Karen

My Blog has been slowly maturing and growing into an avenue of me sharing......a bit of my life....beauty thru pictures......and now I want to share my passion for "home".

Sunday Supper-Spiritual Food

A tid-bit to chew on: Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I will say rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I am amazed at watching the news this week with the 7.0 earthquake  that happened in Haiti.  My amazement is yes the devastation that is seen through out Haiti's capitol Port-a-Prince, the bodies laying on the streets, the bulldozers which pick up the bodies and make mass graves.  (There is just no other way to remove the dead). We all have seen the injured, and the sick, yes our eyes have seen this horror.  In the mist of it all the Christian Haitian people are setting up little gatherings and praising God.  Giving praise to God. The scripture above is one of my favorites.  A spiritual thing happens when you pray.  The above scripture says He will give peace that surpasses "our" understanding.  A reporter asked one person "why are you singing and praising God", and I am paraphrasing, but they were glad to be alive.  I'm just blown away of peoples strength, and I am blessed to see people rushing to help their fellow man, giving their all.  Lord continue to give strength, and Your peace.

It's all about People.

     My heart is heavy due to what I've seen on the news, via quick camera work and the web.  Haiti was hit with a 7.something earthquake and has suffered greatly, loss of life and complete ruin.  I have many friends from that country that are now here in the USA,Lord comfort their souls, as they wonder about their loved ones back in Haiti.

Twitter Alert- Chipmunktweets

I am now a twitter-ing lil bird.  So look out for my twitters.

Doing What I love to Do.

I wanted to blog about my job which I enjoy very much.  I'm a real estate agent, and have been for about 6 years now.  It took me awhile to get my licence, and it took me several tries to pass the test.  It's ok I can admit that, when you work so hard for something you really appreciate it.....and I so do.

I showed a three bedroom condo in Hingham yesterday.  A very old condo with lots of charm in a historical part of Hingham.  Well I think all of Hingham is "historical"  The condo had a newer kitchen with granite counters, New appliances, refinished floors, and a extra bonus a finished basement. My client really liked what she saw so we have a second showing with her finance.

It gives me such joy to see clients get excited about their new next home.  It's a huge jump in live that most of us take, and it has great rewards, not just monetary, memories for a lifetime rewards.  Each house has it's own "personality", and I try to  match these qualities with my clients, by trying to show my clients what they like, what they desire in a home.  Real estate is still one job in this high-tech world that is a "public relations job" and I love that.  Until my next blog......

January 2010

Happy New Year everyone!!  Just writting 2010 seems funny to someone who was born in the 1960's.  Yes that would be me, and you and others, I can only imagine it being even more starnge to those born before the 60's.  Either way its 2010 and it is a new year for new(ness) to happen in our lives.  You know it's a new chance to "try" again at old goals, with new energy.  It's a chance to dream a new dream and go for new goals for our lives.  Opportunites are there for us......let's go for it.  Make a positive move for your life.   I know "all things are possible with God", so I with His help am going to step forward this year, and make changes in my personal being, physically, and spiritually and mentally. Also with working on our lives let's make a commitment to be kind to our fellow brother.  I am a firm believer "kindness goes a long way".  It's exciting to approach a new year.  Be encouraged!