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a slice of life
a slice of life

the race vs. the pace of Christmas

I have loved Christmas for as long as I remember.  I have been blessed to have happy memories of Christmas with my family and it’s always been my favorite time of the year.  I love the food, the music, the baking, the decorating, the presents, the surprises, the anticipation, the traditions, the weather, the clothes…I just love it all.  When I was younger, I would try to hurry things along by insisting we put up the decorations as early as possible.  My parents would make me wait until after Thanksgiving and, I reluctantly would.  But early on Black Friday, I wasn’t thinking about shopping.  I was asking my dad to get the tree down from the attic so we could get started.  We’d put on an Amy Grant Christmas album and the Christmas season would officially begin for the Wagner household. Even as an adult, setting up the tree and

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November 29, 2023 56 Comments
Favorite Things

Black Friday Deals with Walmart

Disclosure | This post is sponsored by Walmart.  As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own. Almost 15 years ago, I decided I would set out on Black Friday to see what all of the fuss was about.  I love getting a good deal, but I wasn’t excited about braving the parking lots and crowds.  I ended up waiting in a line wrapped around a store to buy a Playdough set for Marshall and my curiosity about the hoopla was satisfied.  But now, there is no need to wait in line or even wait until Black Friday to get amazing deals.  has thousands of Black Friday deals available today and you can shop them all without fighting for a parking spot, sitting in traffic, or waiting in lines. They are offering sales of everything from toys and electronics to clothes and housewares and more.  As you

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November 22, 2023 3 Comments
Artistic Endeavors

the patina of practice

I saw this post a few weeks ago on Instagram…     View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Araminta Sainsbury (@minty_sainsbury) And I just loved it.  I love that the artist saved all of her pencil nubs, 272 of them created and collected over 8 1/2 years of practice to become the artist she is today.  I love that she wanted to celebrate them and take it even further to turn them into a piece of art. When I’m browsing at an antique market or store, I seem to be drawn to pieces that have been well-used, patched, and repaired.  I always felt like it was evidence that the object was very useful and loved.  We simply don’t take the time to repair things we don’t need, use, or love.  But, we’ll superglue, stitch, tape, mend, darn, and care for our favorite things.  We’ll tolerate stains

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November 15, 2023 17 Comments
a slice of life

something I cook every week | recipe for chicken patties

While I do enjoy cooking, I also enjoy a lot of other things and I get weary of planning dinner every night.  Over the years, we’ve simplified things by having a couple of standing meals we order out and I’ll prepare a few things at the beginning of the week that can make quick lunches and dinners.  That usually involves making soup (during the cooler months), cooking up a container of rice, prepping some fresh veggies for salads, and making this recipe for chicken patties. I’ve made chicken patties over the years, but I never realized the magic of them until I made too many at one time and ended up with several that we reheated as leftovers.  The real magic of the chicken patty is it keeps and reheats so much better than a cooked chicken breast.  They stay juicy and can simply be reheated in the microwave.  To

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October 24, 2023 27 Comments
a slice of life

The Brot Box | homemade German bread

I want to let you know that I’ve been working very hard and making tremendous sacrifices for your benefit over the past couple of weeks.  I mean, this was the kind of work that is way over and above and I did it all for you.  I have been cooking and testing out homemade German bread from The Brot Box. I think some thank yous are in order and I might need a vacation.    If you’re not familiar with my brand of humor, I’m being cheeky with you.  Baking and eating bread to test it out was a treat.  I’m often asked to test out products to share here on the blog and I definitely say no more than I say yes, but when The Brot Box asked if they could send me some of their homemade German bread for me to try, I did not hesitate.  (By the

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October 20, 2023 20 Comments
Decorating

fall baking with Walmart

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Walmart and contains affiliate links.  As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own. As the chilly weather has started to show up more consistently, I find myself in the mood to do some baking.  I actually really enjoy baking, but I don’t do it very often since I also like to eat baked goods!  But, baking a dozen apple cinnamon muffins seemed like a pretty safe bit of fall baking and I knew my family would enjoy them. When we renovated our kitchen, I made a note of a few pieces of baking gear that needed an update.  I also checked my baking supplies to replace any ingredients that were low or passed their expiration date.  Of course, I shopped for any replacements or additions.  I put together a grocery order on (or app from my phone) a couple of

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October 17, 2023 8 Comments
All Things Home

maple house collective | small shop spotlight

A few years ago, I worked with The Maple House Collective, a small business based in Washington state that sells antiques and housewares online and eventually in a renovated barn.  I love following the journey of Phoebe and her family for a few reasons.  First of all, the aesthetic of the shop is stunning.  Phoebe is amazing at curation, styling, and photography.  Second, I love that it’s a family business and they all work very hard together.  You want to shop from them and root for them and it always feels good to buy from a business like that. When she reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in doing some product photography, I said yes without any hesitation.  As a small business owner myself, I know how nice it is to get a fresh eye on your products and to receive some photos you didn’t

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September 21, 2023 5 Comments
a slice of life

one of my secrets to a productive day & Brooklinen Labor Day sale

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brooklinen, who is currently running a 20% Labor Day sale now through September 6, 2023.  As always, all words and opinions are honest and my own. I’m often asked about my daily schedule and how I get so much accomplished.  A part of it is that I am a person who is driven by productivity, which can be a good thing and a bad thing.  A part of it is the snapshot shared here on the blog and social media sort of compress the things I get done in a week and it can collectively look like more than it is.  But one thing I’ve come to value more over the years is protecting time to rest and getting a good night’s sleep, which can sound counterproductive to productivity. In the early years of my business, I really bought into the hustle culture and

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August 31, 2023 4 Comments

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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