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Favorite Things

a slice of life

Maison

I will admit to being a bit of a book junky.  You would think, then, that I love frequenting the local library.  But, the books I read are typically for reference, so I want to be able to make notes in them and fill them with sticky bookmarks.  I want to be able to revisit them again and again.  So, one of my favorite places to hang out is the local Barnes & Nobel.  A trip there is almost always included in an afternoon out of the house or when Jeff & I are on a date night.  And I often come home with a bag heavy with a book or two and maybe a magazine. In our most recent trip, I came across a delightful book I had never heard of – Maison.  My interest was immediately piqued because it was a collaboration between a watercolor artist and an

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a slice of life

june favorites

As I was compiling this list, I realized I had a lot of favorites in June!  I ended up editing the list down a bit more because it was getting pretty long.  I think that’s a sign that it was a good month. That doesn’t mean everything went right or smooth, but it was full.  Full of learning and doing and finding new favorites and things that moved me. Here is a smattering of those things… Jamestown If you’ve been with me for any amount of time, you know I love period dramas.  So, of course, I’m always excited to see what projects PBS/Masterpiece/ITV/BBC are working on that involve corsets.  A show I’ve enjoyed for a few seasons is Jamestown.  It’s the story of the Jamestown settlement told primarily through three women.  Now, this is not a show for those who want pure historical accuracy.  From what I’ve read on

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a slice of life

ecridor retro fountain pen

I used to spend my birthday money on clothes.  It just seemed like the thing to do.  Go out, do a little shopping, buy a few new things.  But, a few years ago, I realized that those clothes just got lost in the rotation of articles pulled from my closet when I needed something to wear.  I didn’t remember what I got for my birthday or what I bought when I needed or wanted something.  My birthday money wasn’t being spent on something that was truly special and I didn’t like that.  It felt wasteful. So, a few years ago, I decided to pool all of my birthday money together and buy something memorable.  I bought my 1800’s ironstone cake stand… Even as I was bidding on it on eBay, I was nervous; literally biting my nails.  I kept waffling and debating with myself.  I shouldn’t spend this much money

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a slice of life

May 2019 Favorites

May was a good month.  That’s a simple, but true way to say it.  I’ve loved the cool spring weather in Minnesota.  I enjoyed being out on walks in the mornings and sitting on the porch in the evenings.  And, while it’s been stressful at times, I have been loving work.  I am working on all sorts of new things…things that make me uncomfortable in a good way because they are vulnerable and pushing me into spaces where I’ve been scared to go.  But, I’ve been working diligently, pushing and praying through any fears that rear and any anxieties that taunt me.  And it feels good. I am launching one of my newest projects to my newsletter subscribers tomorrow (Friday, June 7), so if your curiosity is piqued, make sure you’re subscribed and you’ll hear all about it tomorrow.  You can subscribe HERE (and get the Personal Retreat Guide for

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a slice of life

2019 April Favorites

My word…April flew by!  I can’t believe it’s May already and the end of the school year is just weeks away.  Crazy.  I’m not sure if I’m ready for summer just yet!  Anyway, before we get ahead of ourselves, let me share some of my favorite things from April… Les Misérables on Masterpiece I’m pretty eager to like just about any period miniseries, but I have been eagerly anticipating Les Misérables on PBS for a while!  I was introduced to the story through the musical when I was 11.  It was actually the first CD I ever listened to!  Anyway, the story is so beautiful and I have enjoyed the miniseries so far.  It’s still playing on PBS and you can also watch it on the Masterpiece channel on Amazon Prime. New Notebook I think I have finally found the perfect notebook (and, believe me, I have certainly bought and

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a slice of life

March Favorites

Wow!  I wasn’t expecting such a response to selling the postal sorter.  I can assure you, though, that I’ve bought and sold a lot of beautiful things over the years…things that were rare, unusual, and things that I loved.  But I’ve learned that I can love something for a while, as long as I have the perfect place for it and a use for it, and then I can let it go if ever that changes.  I find just as much joy sending the beloved item off to a new home.  And I haven’t regretted selling anything.  There are times when I remember a piece with fondness or I think about a piece I sold a few years ago that would now be perfect for this house.  But, if I kept everything I might have a spot for in a future house, I would have to rent a storage unit. 

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a slice of life

December & January Favorites

I have to confess that I was a little too grouchy yesterday to write any kind of a blog post that would’ve been even marginally inspirational or interesting to read.  So, I saved you from that and left my writing for this morning when I had a fresh perspective!  And, I was having such a great morning that it got me in the perfect mood to share my favorites from December and January.  Those two ended up getting lumped together because of the holidays, so here you go… Montana Trip I went to Whitefish, Montana to tour the HGTV dream home in early December and it was such an enriching trip.  I didn’t know anyone attending the event, so it pulled me out of my typical sphere of home decor bloggers.  I got to hang out with an awesome group of creative, business-savvy women and it was a blast.  The location wasn’t too

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a slice of life

curiosity killed the cat…

…but I am not a cat.  And neither are you. When I was on my creative retreat last March, there were a few themes that kept coming up.  They were from different authors and podcasters and, if I heard them more than once, it really made me take notice.  Enthusiasm, showing up, schedule, and routine were some of those themes.  Another one was curiosity. Since then, I’ve heard curiosity brought up in many creative business podcasts. Follow your curiosity.  Be curious.  Stay curious. I even heard it in a sermon about cynicism.  One way to combat cynicism is to be curious…to not assume the outcome, but to approach life with a sort of wonder.  “What would happen if…” It’s the triumph of hope over experience. (Does anyone recognize that period drama reference?) I realized, as I’ve been listening to all of this talk about curiosity, that I meander through my creative

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I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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