Mini Frames & Fist Pumps

Tags

Anniversary, Cat, Celebration, Decor, Family, Grapefruit, Home, Inspiration, Josh, Life, Lifestyle, Mosaic, Photos, Vintage, Vintage Colander, Vintage Photo Frame

This is one of the tiniest frames I’ve ever seen – lockets excluded, because I see a lot of lockets. One time we had one in the shop with a literal lock of hair in it. *gag* Who knows how old that hair was. Working in a jewelry store is super glamorous. But I’m sure you know that already.

Josh & I celebrated our 7th anniversary this week. Seven years of bliss – nary an argument, nary a bad day, nary a burned (or under-cooked) dinner.. It’s just been one constant stream of hearts, rainbows, and sunbeams. (Heh heh)

I may be exaggerating with the nary’s, but the sunbeams, hearts, & rainbows do abound. I sure did find the right guy to do this marriage thing with. Like, big time. I love you, Schnookims!

I’m super excited today because Mark & Jess are closing on their house & getting ready to move it move it. So if you need me, you can find me fist pumping at home, at work, in the car, you name it. Fist pumping. Right now. Congrats, guys! This day is a total answer to prayer.

AND happy birthday Mark! (Also this week.) It’s been a big week, guys.

Winter Whites

Tags

Animal Planter, Banana Republic, Coffee, Container Garden, Decor, Dots, Espresso, Garland, Home, Horse, House Plant, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, Marshmallows, Photos, Polka Dot, Snow, Snowy, String of Pearls, Style, Vintage, White, Winter

It hasn’t snowed much around here (yet) (???) .. But the winter whites are in full swing. Sometimes it feels downright snowy. And by “snowy” I guess I mean “polka-dotty”. Potato, potahto.

It is winter, right? Right??

Eye Love It!

Tags

Decor, Etsy, Eye Love It!, Gardening, Home, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, Links

So I downloaded a few viruses onto my computer this weekend. Dumb. And (since you’re right in assuming I wouldn’t do this on purpose) when I realized what was happening, I got a very, very sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Watching these weird things flash across the screen, not knowing how to stop it, the works. It was a mess.

Once again, Josh found a way to pick up the pieces & clean off my computer, so all is right with the world. The list of reasons why I love him just keeps getting longer.

While I whisper sweet nothings at my laptop & gaze adoringly at its sparkly clean hard drive (and the rest of you sit there rolling your eyes), let’s check out some Link Love!

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A rainbow igloo!

I’ve got to remember this as a good gift idea for next year.. Especially good to go along with undies for our Annual Undie Exchange!

“God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”

The Josh’s of 1967 – hee hee

A tropical houseplant with bifurcated leaves. If you use the words “bifurcated leaves” together in one description, I’m all ears.

All Things Wise and Wonderful.

The best temporary tattoos I’ve seen. Which implies that I’ve seen lots of them, and I really haven’t. But I like these.

Woop! We just listed our most expensive item ever in our etsy shop.

A fascinating article about the world’s tallest trees.. And their itty bitty clones.

10 ideas for adding green plants to your home.

If you buy those temporary tattoos, I am offering to be your friend .. You know, the one who wears a matching tattoo? That’ll be us! Me & you!

Anyway, it’s gonna be a busy one around here today.. What about you? Also, what would you buy your 33-year-old brother for his birthday? If you let me know by 3:30 this afternoon it could end up making a difference. Let the ideas flow, people!

And.. Happy Weekend!
♥

Playtime with Jess & Jane

Tags

Family, Home, Jane, Jess, Life

Wanna know what’s fun? Having a niece. It’s fun.

Jess and Jane came over to hang out the other day and I took oh somewhere around 500 photos. (At least it felt like it) This chick is on the move, people. If you want a picture you better be ready to work for it!

She played with her big brother’s flashlight, gnawed on toys, laughed, had a snack, and crawled around. Jess & I had treat drinks and caught up with each other. What’s not to love?

And – Happy Birthday (it was Wednesday) Jess! Heidi & I are so blessed to have you as our sister. Love you!

Instagram Catch-Up

Tags

Christmas, Decor, Etsy, Herman Miller, Home, Inspiration, Instagram, Josh, Life, Lifestyle, Photos, Vintage, Vintage Furniture, Vintage Jewelry, Vintage Wrapping Paper

I’ve had this post sitting in the drafts for a while now – just some Instagrams from November/December. If I can remember that far back, I’ll add captions. Ha.
1970′s Herman Miller red sectional sofa, currently for sale in our shop.  <>  Leftovers from my birthday dinner, anyone local will know how good this stuff is even on Day 2.  <>  My 1st eye exam in SIX years. And guess what? My vision actually improved over that time! Is that even possible?  <>  Vintage wrapping paper. I hoard this stuff big time.

Still dilated. The eye exam.

Formal gardens from an estate sale I went to. Really wish I could’ve toured the grounds!  <>  A customer bought a bunch of our vintage costume jewelry at the (jewelry) shop and she’s decorating picture frames with it.  <>  That estate sale again – at the top of the stairs on the left, a warthog skin is hanging over the balcony.  The zebra skin was just out of the frame on the right. Shoulda bought that one I think. heh.  <>  We’ve done lots of shuffling stuff around the living room the past few months – painting ceilings, etc.. This was in the middle of it.

A beautiful December sunset.

I wore a circle scarf as a shrug thing to work one day.. And had an awkward time getting my coat on.  <>  Did I mention we brought both of our cars in for repair in early December? Not the best planning we’ve done. So this was me, waiting for my daily ride to work.  <> Undie Exchange Night!  <>  Christmas lights went up in the showroom at work. A little late, but they went up. Actually, they’re still up.

December 14 – the morning I saw a raging house fire downtown. Also the day of the Sandy Hook shootings. It was a heavy, heavy day.

Pocono Love Potion glasses – not sure where to get my hands on the Love Potion, so wine it is.  <>  Somebody was headed for a very pink Christmas at the jewelry shop!  <>  Packaging is the best Christmas present, if you’re a cat or a toddler.. Right?  <>  My husband, dressing for the occasion – his family’s Christmas party. Be thankful you can’t see the accompanying green shirt. Nope, not kidding.

First fire in the fireplace for the season!

That’s all for now! For more instagrammin’, you can find me there @suzannebrandsen.

Eye Love It!

Tags

Decor, Eye Love It!, Flowers, Gardening, Home, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, Love, Vintage

At first glance, I thought that these garden rose blooms were somehow growing out of the begonia (below). I had a mini heart attack & resolved to instantly order one of these magical begonias from anywhere on the planet if I managed to track one down. 

Then I looked closer.. And.. It’s a vase of garden roses. Next to a begonia. Two separate (non-magical) things, just happening to sit next to each other in a photo. And now I think I have an idea of how kids feel when they find out Santa isn’t real.

Time for some Link Love!

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Bulldog on a trampoline.

An attic find worth almost a million dollars!

I never knew about yew. But now I dew. Do.

A great round-up of pretty 2013 calendars. I bought this - I liked how absolutely plain it is, and that it’s refillable every year.. But then I saw this & sorta feel like it’s perfect. Conflicted.

Vintage wrapping paper with kitchen tips.

Seed money – that’s a fun idea!

Pink flamingo’s.

Did you know that mistletoe is actually parasitic.. And that it germinates from bird dung? Bird dung??

Ooh! I really want this book. In fact I’m buying it. Right now. Eep!

The guy that wore 70 items of clothing to avoid paying a luggage fee at the airport.. I guess somebody somewhere someday was bound to do it.

Okay! I’m off to sit back, sip my coffee, & enjoy this little Saturday morning while Josh plays racquetball. Sitting & drinking coffee sounds way better to this girl.

Happy January Weekend! Today Doug comes down. And the mantle lights. And maybe even the wreathe on the front door. I am ready.
♥

The Holly Jolly Days

Tags

2013, Cam, Christmas, Coffee, Decor, Family, Fireplace, Holiday, Home, Inspiration, Jane, Latte, Life, Lifestyle, New Year, Photos, Thomas

Coming out of the holidays, I’m starting to realize that they were a little much for me this year. Holidays can overwhelm, people! This year Josh & I were super busy, and at work (jewelry store!) we were short-staffed with Mom being sick for weeks on end. (Poor Mom!) It was kind of a lot.

What that led to was me “checking out” around this blog & my computer in general (which is probably a good thing).. It also turned into a gift-card giving year to avoid the shopping, and a lack of motivation on a lot of fronts. And too much coffee, if I’m being honest.

But! The last few days have been so refreshing, and I’m feeling much more like myself. I’ve been picking up the camera, editing photos, doing little projects around the house (and by that I mean laundry), and finding some balance again.

So there’s my little progress report.. Now can I show you a little peek of our holiday season?

On Christmas Day we had the first fire of the season in our fireplace. Hoping for lots more just like that one!

Cam – the cutest little cow ever. He was giggling and coo-ing and melting our hearts.

So. Josh bought me a new coffee maker/espresso machine recently. Life will never be the same. Everrrrrr.

Oh Jane.

Not all the Christmas decorations made it out this year, but the Merry’s sure did.

This may be my favorite photo of Thomas EVER. I can’t get enough of that little face! Who cares if it’s blurry?

What were your holidays like? Pretty sure the whole “busy” thing is universal.. So I hope that you handled it better than I did!

Happy 2013, guys. Beginnings are so fun – so much to look forward to!

Year in Reeeeeeview

Tags

2012, Family, Garden, Goals, Home, Inspiration, Life, New Year, Photos, Recap, Review, Update

Hey guys,

I’ve been working on doing a New Year’s photo card to send out & found myself surfing through some blog posts from 2012. I thought it might be fun to re-visit some of them today, since that seems like the thing to do.. Like right now.. Since the end of the year is less than 7 hours away.

Enjoy!

Josh wins things. A lot of things.

I made my cat a teepee. In my head this is still the best thing ever. But only in my head.

Random Acts of Kindness from friends & family, celebrating Mom’s 60th birthday.

Peony season.

How I didn’t steal the neighbor’s poppies.

No IV’s!

Our first niece! Jane Nicole Patten. Oh my word, she should be illegal.

Summer of color.

Pocono Mountains (and a song). We love finding new places to explore.

A reminder to myself to post an update on freshly painted walls.

Big milestone for my parents = big party too!

First Brandsen nephew! Callum Jace Brandsen. Pure joy.

My kind of mall. This has been a big year for our Etsy shop, and places like this are great for research!

2012 has been an absolute treat. Thanks for sticking around this little blog, guys! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Tags

Cat Photo, Celebration, Christmas, Holiday, Home, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, White Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas! I hope you’re out there enjoying time with family & friends – even if it’s via skype! It’s a very busy time of year with lots of things to do and places to be.. But today I’m most thankful for the little baby in a manger who came with very big plans.

It very nearly didn’t happen this year – but.. The tree is up, the lights are on, and Doug (the tree) is beaming cotton-candy colored good will to the neighborhood.

Also, if the plate of cookies by our front door last night was from you, thank you!! That sure was a nice thing to come home to.

 

 

That Little Pink Christmas Tree I Forgot About..

Tags

Christmas, Christmas Tree, Decor, Holiday, Home, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, Pink, Pink Christmas, Tree, Vintage

So this is where we’re at. Until yesterday this is the only amount of “Christmas” in our house – which I’m not sure I’m comfortable with. Shouldn’t it be the Nativity, if anything? Not a fake.. 12-inch tall.. pink.. Christmas tree?

I found this guy in a box when I was getting something else ready to ship. Not the Christmas boxes, which I did discover yesterday. Progress!

The big question on everbody’s my mind – will the big tree make it upstairs this year? Only time will tell.. And time, my friends, is running out.