{Random Happy Things}

Well hello there!
Happy almost hump day!
Where is Friday....that's all i'm asking!!! :) :) :)

Seaside...yes that's were i'd rather be:) :)
It's been a week and it's only Tuesday!

ps....that seaside sign is one i've made recently! What do you think?! I happen to think it's pretty cute! Sort of my take on all those vintage inspired signs out there!

Alright...I told you this was going to be random!

A little while ago I drug my best friend over to a freshly plowed corn field to watch the sunset! We had a blast!

I absolutely love to do random things like that! Good thing the farmer didn't get mad at us and my friend was willing! I think it's fun and it makes you stop and really appreciate the simple moments in life!

I also thought it would be fun if she walked out into the field and danced ...while I tried to take pictures that didn't turn out!
I completely adore her ....she fun...funny and a great friend! Plus look what she's willing to do to make me smile! :) :)

Little did I know she'd expect the same from me....
You can tell...I am not nearly as comfortable dancing in the middle of a plowed corn field!
It was a much better idea when it was her doing the dancing! :)


Owell....it sure made us laugh! and sometimes that's all you need!



On another random note.....
One of my friends at work also makes jewelry!
Black Rock Design....check it out!!!

She makes absolutely gorgeous jewelry but was lacking in her display....let's just say....she didn't have a display!
She asked for a little help and I was delighted!

I gave her a little homework assignment...
asked her to come up with 20 words that would really describe what she was after....and had her pick a couple images that really spoke to her!

From there.....she let me design her whole display!! I was in pure heaven!
I absolutely love to design things! I think it turned out amazing.....

I came up with the ideas and she did the hard work of painting frames....coloring canvas.....and cutting fabric~~
I think it really shows off her amazing jewelry!

Now if someone would just pay me to do this for a living....i'd be in bliss!!!! :) :) :)

And lastly....
see I told you it would be random!

I started my autumn decorating tonight...

ps...notice the 2 wine glasses in the background!!?!? I couldn't decide between red and white wine tonight! So I had a little of both! :) :)

Anywho...I built another one of those cute little crates tonight and painted it creamy white and then scuffed it all up!


I put a glass candle holder in it and surrounded it with autumn pumpkins and what not....
I hate to admit it....but I must....I love autumn!!! I love everything about it! and I love getting inspired to re-decorate my home to reflect the season. I just don't look forward to what comes after autumn.

Hope you have a super happy rest of your week! Maybe it will fly by!

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” unknown

{shabby chalkboard}

Hello and Happy Friday!
Can I get a woot woot!! :)

It's been a whirlwind of a week and i'm looking forward to just tinkering around this weekend!
I've been craving pizza all week.

but I thought i'd try something a little different ... I decided on an autumn inspired pizza!

I love pizza in almost any form.....but it makes me feel best when I eat a healthy pizza!

I made the crust from scratch using whole wheat flour.

Then I added these ingredients.....
add a little vino and enjoy a super healthy dinner:)
Doesn't get any better!

ps...that wine was fabulous and I love the bottle....tempra tantrum.....yeah that's what I feel like doing about summer beginning to end:):)

Guess what.....I've been crafting away lately!
I know...I know....hard to believe but when creativity rains it pours.....at least for me!
I'm on a roll and have found that I can't sleep because my brain is spinning with ideas I just don't have enought time to do them all!
Thank goodness for weekends:)


I had an old frame lying around....
I decided to paint it...scuff it up .... add some shells and make a chalkboard!
Then I used a piece of metal that we had in the basement and just painted it with chalkboard paint.
That way it's magnetic and a chalkboard!

I even added one of my little clay magnets that I made awhile ago:)
What do you think!
I know I keep saying I need to list these things on my etsy shop.....but truth be told....I just don't have the time...or take the time to do it! :) :)
If I do ever get around to it....i'll let you know!
For now....i'll just focus on inspiring you to make super cute crafts!

Oh and I used little scraps of fabric lying around to make the shabby looking hanger.

Cute! I think:)

And just for fun....

here's what a peek at what i've been working on lately!

designing cute little shabby shell signs....

learning how to cut on a miter saw.... hello shabby chic frames!

having fun with painting everything in my vicinity a chipped up turquoise:)

tinkering with all the painting techniques out there.....dry brushing, white washing.....etc!

and I am just hanging everything on a wall in my little studio until I can figure out what to do with it all:)

See....I do need a tiny little shop:)

Happy....Happy...Happy little wall!!!!!!

Sure hope your week has been going well!!

What creative things are going to work on this weekend!?!!?!?!?

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Proust

{Aqua Blue Ball Jars}

Hello and Happy Monday to you!!
Thank you for all of your inspirational comments on my last post!!! Sometimes I think it's totally dorky to share my hopes and dreams.....but then.....you all seem to make it feel alright!!
And it's so nice to know that we are all out there striving for much the same thing!
Let's start a small shop nation!!! haha!!!

Anywho....I did the ride on Sunday...finished 63 miles! While I was riding I couldn't help but think.....riding is such a metaphor for life and for following your dreams.
As I start out on my ride.....I can tell you one thing....63 miles would STRESS me out to think about......soooooooo I break it down into smaller increments!!!
I tell myself....all I have to do is ride to the next SAG stop {a place where you grab a snack, a drink and use tinkle town if you have to} they are usually about 17-20 miles apart. For me, that is a doable distance. I break it down that way.....much the way I do life. If I stop and think that I may want to actually own a shop ....i'll get completely overwhelmed ..... but if I say to myself....today or this week or this month...I am going to accomplish a b or c....it's much more manageable!! Get it!!!!
Alright, fine.....I am not always the best explainer of things but the point is....break done your goals and at least for a moment DON'T focus on the big picture......you'll get there if you just keep focused on the small steps!!!
got it!!!!!


Alright......


Simple Daisy is about so many things and I truly appreciate you supporting me as I move through so many questions in my life!
I wonder if i'll still be blogging at 81 because you know by then.....i'll have it all figured out?!?!?
haha!

Recently I came across a jackpot of aqua blue ball jars and as soon as I brought them home.....I knew I had to build a super cute crate to house them in!
Much like the things I would include in my shop!!! Do you like!?!?!
Oh and just for curiosities sake.......would you purchase a handmade crate like this!?!?! Say for $28?!?!?!
I would love your feedback....as always! :) :) :)


Trust me.....you could build a super cute crate too, if you wanted to! !!
It's not too hard....you just have to be handy with a saw!


Thank goodness my gramps taught me how to use a saw! Or really.... I wouldn't stop bugging him until he did teach me to use a saw!
Anyway....it really did pay off:)
I am not afraid of power tools! And notice the dogs helping me!?!?! They like to help (or really get in the way of) everything I do!

Oh and Ruby loves the turquoise paint!!!!
See it all over her nose:)


And L.C. loves to see what new things I have going on!!!


Well I bet you even Ruby & L.C. would tell you....just follow your dreams....break them down into small increments and they will be totally doable:):)


And if you're so inclined....take pretty pictures in everything you do!!
And especially in your new turquoise crate that houses your aqua blue ball jars!!
Just because it will make you so happy:) Another thing about goals......do what makes YOU happy! NO ONE else can ever know what that is for you!! Dig deep and search what is going on inside of you!!!! And again....take happy pictures....they'll tell you something about you:)
And just for fun....
The new "prop" chair and my happy crate with housing the ball jars!!!!!
\

Have a super great rest of your week and get out there and do something happy & creative:)

Follow your heart and your dreams will come true.
Anonymous

{Pretty Aqua Blue Chair}

Well Hello & Happy Friday to you:)

Guess what….each day you CAN choose to be happy.
Life is just full of choices and each day is an opportunity just waiting to unfold:)

What do you choose today.
Be happy or Be sad!?!?
Follow your dreams or let them pass you by?????
It’s all up to you…..or so a wise woman once said!

It’s FRIDAY {YEAH} and I can once again truly appreciate a good solid Friday….
You know I am choosing to be happy on this fabulous first Friday back to school!!! Oh ok...the back to school part isn't really all that fabulous.....but the Friday sure is:):):)


First I thought I’d share……
My healthy recipe.
It’s just perfect for when you’re in a time crunch and need something healthy to eat.

I often make a batch of something similar to this on Sunday or Monday evening and then I am ready to go each day of the week.. No thinking involved.

Ths time it was..
CousCous {garlic flavor}
chopped....
cucumber
fennel
tomato
onion
green beans
peaches
cilantro
& lime juice, salt & pepper!!

Mix it all up & enjoy:)

A perfect lunch!!!


Well guess what….
Simple Daisy has a goal..
You betcha…
No more him hawying around…
I have decided to open a happy little shop one way or another.
I am making that my long term goal no matter how long it takes:):):)

I have a ton of work to do and it might start much smaller than you think....but I am a determined kind of gal.
I love etsy....don’t get me wrong…
I just don’t necessarly feel like it’s the right kind of venue for me…
I just don’t feel like I connect with people the way I would like to….you know the way I would if you were to ever come visit my shop:):)

I have a long road ahead of me….but one thing I know for sure is…if you don’t write things out and formulate a plan….they WON'T happen……
I have learned this in my running and riding training and once again a wise woman recently shared this with me:):)
Good thing for wise friends and people that truly believe in you!

But you know what else she said.....it really doesn't matter what other people believe about you....it's do you believe in YOURSELF! That's really all that matters:)

Now really think about that for a momemt! Do you believe in you!?!?!?!!?
If you did I bet you would fulfill a lot more of your dreams!


What’s your dream…
What do you see yourself doing if nothing stood in your way…
What stands in your way from fulfilling that dream????
How can YOU make it happen….

Alright now get busy and start writing it out.
Keep a little journal for yourself! I know I am making a commitment to journaling things:) :)
Things don’t just happen to you…..YOU happen to things!!!
Right?!?!?!?



OK now for a little crafty inspiratiion!
First up…

The driftwood sailboats….
DREAMY….
Lake Michigan little sweeties! I have loved boats for as long as I can remember…..and when I came across driftwood sailboats….I was smitten:):)
　
Easy to make…..
And easy to like!!

Oh and did you see….Maya from Completely Coastal just gave lil ol me a shout out for my Lake Michigan inspired driftwood boat!?!?!?
Thanks Maya…
I love all things beachy and so does she!!!!
That’s why I LOVE stopping by her blog!
Happy inspiration.
Stop by and say HELLO if you get a chance:):):)

But after much ado…..I don’t know at this point how much I’ll be adding to my etsy shop so I don't know if these little cuties will make on there….
I know tons of people do quite well there….but just don’t enjoy how time consuming it is.
I would rather focus my efforts on my real DREAM!!
But if you’d just love to have one of my Lake Michigan driftwood sailboats….well just send me an email!!!! I'm sure we can figure something out:):)

Oh and notice the chair???

A "new" prop for me:)
It was just a real junker I just {re} came across it in the basement….left over from the previous owners of our home. I ALMOST threw it away…..sad little chair….I think it was even handmade by the previous owner….

But one day as I was shabbying everything up in a 5 foot radius of me……I turned to see the sad little chair…..
And it too got a shabby little paint job!

It’s just so darn happy now:):)

I want to sit on it and drink my morning coffee!!! I think the builder of this chair would be quite proud of it!!!

See ….that’s the stuff I would have in my shop…….
Cottage inspired wares…

Handmade.....repurposed.....vintage.....awesome stuff
In all shades of turquioue….aqua and robin’s egg blue!!

Even my jewelry!
How could I not be happy!! And I think it might make other people happy too!

What do you think!?!?

Oh and when I do one day own a shop……….
I know I’ll have the vino flowin' for each and everyone of you that would venture in:):)

How fun would that be!!!!!

Picture it.....you're walking up to the tiniest turquoise building. First thing you notice are all the happy flowers just bursting out of the pots surrounding the french doors entrance. As you walk in you hear the fabulous music playing and take a moment to take in the frangrance from that ocean scented candle that's burning on the counter. You look around to see old worn wood planked floors and pale pale gray walls. The ceiling is beadboard in the creamiest shade of robin's egg blue. You are happy...you feel like you've just spent a moment at the beach. You see shabby furniture in every shade of aqua blue. You notice handmade beach inspired signs and you fall in love with the tons of vintage fans for sale! All perfect for your lovely home on the water!

Of course you can't move past the pretty jewelry displayed on vintage turquoise frames and you just love the beachy artwork. The nicest {ok...maybe not the nicest} shop owner stops to say hello and offers you a glass of wine while you enjoy your visit:) Oh ok....I don't know if that part's reality but........it would be nice:)

And you end your visit with a purchase that makes you super happy....not just for what you bought but you're happy with the experience of shopping in such a happy inspiring place!

So do you like my vision!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?

Dreams......:):)

Hope you have a happy weekend!

And remember to write down your goals and dreams!!!!

They won't happen without a plan:)
Oh and Sunday I am riding in a 60 mile bike ride….still getting ready for that 100 miler on Sept. 28~~
Woo hoo !!!
Wish me luck:)

"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."

Pamela Vaull Starr

{daily grind}

Well hello and Happy Monday to you:)
Guess what....
i'm back at work today.
but here's a little photo post of how I spent my last weekend of freedom:) :) :)
I'd say we had a great time!

Hope you have a happy week. I'll check in with you later:) :)

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon;
to me those have always been the two most beautiful
words in the English language."
- Henry James

{Wine Friday}

Well Hello there & Happy Friday!!!!

Thank you sooooo much for all of your wonderful words on my last post:) :) :)
You know....it is so nice to know that we all struggle with those questions every once in awhile. That's real life and I do like to keep it real here on Simple Daisy.
All of you are just one more big reason why I love blogging so much....it's like adding many more postive friends to my life!
And I think ..... you are who you surround yourself with.....so thanks:)

Ok now onto my favorite subject:) :) :)

You know I love my vino!

And guess what....i've been so busy enjoying all of this this week that I didn't even make a healthy recipe for Fresh Friday! Owell.... But I did finish my little craft that I was working on with my nephew the other day:) Wine bags & mossy letters!!!!!

I think they would be perfect if you were to have a little wine tasting party!!

I hand painted a happy little stafish to burlap and sewed that onto one of the wine bags.

Then I just glued moss to wooden letters....easy peasy:)
and sewed cute little wine bags out of fabric I had laying around! If you know how to sew these take 5 minutes:) :)

and did you know....you can drill holes in shells!??! You probably did already know that:)

I didn't! I drilled holes in happy little shells and tied them around the wine bags!

I really love the moss letters. I think they are super cute and i'm dreaming up all sorts of words to make with them:) :)

Maybe even frame them with vintage chippy frames.....oooh...I think i'll do that for my next project! heehee...

See my brain just never stops with ideas:) :)

Let me know if you give this a whirl:)

Oh and if you'd like to come to a wine tasting party.....well...how fun would that be if we all lived a little closer to one another!!!!!

Hope you have a really happy wine filled weekend:) :)
It's back to work for me on Monday.....so i'm gonna every little minute of this weekend!!!!


Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost