Life's An Adventure, Right?...

Wow, what a whirlwind it's been the last few months!  My family had just moved to Sandpoint, ID for my husband's new job and I had even went back to work full-time when our lives were once again turned upside down when husband received an incredible opportunity to be part of a brand new tax division in Raleigh, NC for the CPA firm that we had both worked for in Spokane.  Before I knew it, I was scurrying like crazy trying to find housing in Raleigh, wrapping up the last projects at work, packing our house, and get all my projects done for my favorite show ever, The Farm Chicks Show.  
As soon as the show was over, everything went into boxes and was loaded into the biggest U-haul truck we could get and an additional trailer and off we went...almost 3,000 miles away from everything we've ever known. 
It's been quite an adventure to say the least...  There are stories of our "travels" that I'm sure our kids will tell their kids like attempting to drive across South Dakota during tornado weather, a 5 year-old with the stomach flu, and me driving a large trailer for the first time and trying to keep it on the road in the wind.  Needless to say, we got stuck in a rundown hotel in the middle of nowhere for two days.  It rained so hard that the walls in the room were leaking!  Slowly, but surely, we finally made it to North Carolina and we all cheered when we finally made it across that stateline.  My undramatic husband even wanted to kiss the ground when we got here and declared that we were never doing that again!   

Now that we're here, I'm so excited to explore the South! There is such history and a unique beauty here!  True to form, I've already buying been buying up some fabulous antiques that I can't wait to share with you. I hope you'll join me on my new "Southern Junkin' Journey"!

 

Baby Boy Shower

I recently returned to the workforce as a financial analyst and one of the things that I've missed so much the last few years staying home with the kids is the kind of adult interaction that you get working together in teams with really great people.  I'm fortunate enough to be in great department with a couple of gals that are fun to be around.  One of them is due to have a little baby boy in June and I had the pleasure to help plan and throw a "work" baby shower.  We had so much fun coming up with ideas and setting up that I wanted to share some of the fun with you...

 

Funky Junk Show Highlights

Funky Junk Show - Spokane

Two weeks away to the first big show of the season!  Mark your calendars - you won't want to miss this!

Can't wait to see you there...

Things That Make Me Smile

When our yard is still deeply covered in snow and there are giant mountains of dirty, gravel-filled snow all over or when it still snows 2-3 times a week here in Sandpoint, ID and I am now in a gray, lifeless cubicle 40+ hours a week, I need things that can make me smile.  Although we are in a transition stage of renting until we permanently settle (which means no painting walls, drywall anchors, etc), I found that it's important to surround yourself with the little things that brighten your day and make you smile...

 Coffee always cheers me up, but drinking it in a favorite cup is even better.

 This old cabinet filled with my collection of clocks will always remind me how precious time is.

 Birds, birds, birds... I've loved them for as long as I know. 

 Doesn't everyone need more than one set of bird salt and pepper shakers?

 Favorite china is a must...

 mixed with vintage suitcases and...

old trophy cups.

 That favorite piece of furniture in all its distressed glory

 And everyone needs a light-filled window and a big, squishy sofa to soak in some quiet time.

But most of all...it's the important things in life that make you smile!

I hope some of the things that make me smile put a smile on your face too!

Kristen

XOXO To You!

Happy Valentine's Day!  May your day be filled with xoxo's!

Your Friend,

Kristen

Taking Some Time

I've been taking some time the last few months...

Spending some serious time with these guys...

Visiting the happiest place on earth....

Curling up with a good book or two...

And, I can tell you what we haven't been doing...no gutting our house, no hauling furniture everywhere, and no going days and weeks without having my husband home for dinner.  The weekend after last fall's Angel's Attic Show, our family moved up to Sandpoint, ID for my husband's new job and some serious downtime for all of us.  We are happy to report that we've enjoyed weekends playing Wii games, reading books, and bumming around the house for the first time EVER!  We also took our first family vacation to Disneyworld in Orlando a couple weeks ago and had the time of our lives!  It's been so good for us to recharge after so many years of constant stress.  We tease now that we all feel almost "normal"!

After the whirlwind of selling our home, being part of several shows, going through a housing emotional roller coaster of trying to find a place to live in Sandpoint, and packing and moving two giant U-haul trucks (one unloaded in the middle of a very rainy night), I didn't want to look at another piece of furniture for a while and to be honest, I wasn't sure when I would... Family before furniture, right?!  In the last few weeks, I've been pulling out my decorating books and magazines, dreaming of projects, and I even think the furniture in the garage has been calling my name :)  Clearly, I've been cured from the "I just want to relax a while" phase. 

I'm very excited to be planning out projects and setting some show dates for this upcoming spring which I'll keep posted here.  I've also been creating some new jewelry that I can't wait to share with you!