a new st.louis favorite.

This is a new St. Louis favorite Winslow's Home & Farm. I have now visited a few times and find it quite cozy. Their website is great too and shows how fun it is on the inside. Don't miss, the fire burning outside. I love that campfire smell on a cold winter day...it warms the soul!

Come on over...Or, I'll meet you there!

heart day special

(Linnea Earrings in White)

Beth is having a special in her Etsy shop! From January 25-February 8 she will be giving away a free pair of Linnea earrings with any order.

(Finnely purple)

I might need a pair of these earrings. I love the purple stones with the pearls and little bling!

family at pietro's

(Leslie Stout Wulff, Claire Williams, Holly Williams, Scott Williams, Betty Gottardi, Adeline Callahan, Armand Gottardi, Armeen Gottardi Williams, William Wulff, Cheryl Stout, Elizabeth Williams)

Over the New Year's Holiday, Grandma and Grandpa Gottardi came with Dad to St.Louis/Illinois from Terre Haute for the long weekend. Of course, we made a visit to Harrah's!

Cheryl and I organized a family "get together" and we all met for dinner at Pietro's. Grandpa Armand said it was the best meal he has had in St. Louis. Now, that is saying something! I think he liked the bread best.

It was nice getting together and it reminded a lot of us of the meals we used to share at Louise's in Terre Haute.

two words: more giveaways

Carolyn Peeler is giving away a stamp set from the new Stampin' Up catalog. This is one of her cards here! Go to her blog to find out more!

favorite products: goshen coffee

The best part of waking up is brewing my favorite coffee from Goshen Coffee Company. And, great news...Goshen Coffee is now 100% Organic. (Even Sauce magazine picked up the story).

My favorite beans are the Mexican Chiapas. Can't wait to try a cup? Visit these locations around St. Louis or 222 Artisan Bakery in Edwardsville.

This is how I drink my favorite cup...in my favorite cup!

treat of the week: yummy macaroons from companion

Okay, so these are my new "favorite" treats of the week!
Companion has the best macaroons, and I don't even like coconut. Come on over to visit me in St. Louis and I'll buy you one! Yum, Yum!

this is true about the FB.

This is hilarious! If anyone wants to be my friend on Facebook, I'll be confirming new friends on Friday's from 3:00-3:30 pm.

enter this contest: drenched in white

Creature Comforts has another giveaway! This time it is an Art Print from Drenched in White. Check out the Creature Comforts blog and also the Drenched in White shop on Etsy.

favorite products: aveda soothing aqua therapy

On my birthday in December, I received Aveda soothing aqua therapy from Claire. What a treat! These bath salts are AWESOME, and just what I needed to hydrate my dry, stressed skin. It definately turns your bath into a tranquil spa. Thank you Claire for this fabulous gift! And, another Aveda product to LOVE!

knock, knock...welcome to iowa.

Last weekend, my mom and I drove up to Iowa City to visit Beth. Brooke drove down from Chicago and met us there too! We missed you Claire :(! We visited Sisters' Garden and Bloom in Kalona, Iowa. The shop has everything from furniture and antiques to vintage purses and necklaces. Brooke and I found some great vintage necklaces inspired by the J. Crew Spring Catalog! This shop also sells Papaya art, journals, and cards. Beth gave me a calendar for Christmas and she purchased it here!

This is the Kalona Cheese House. We ate some of these yummy cheese curds before our lunch at Tuscan Moon in downtown Kalona, Iowa.

On Friday night, I had an accident and this was the mound of snow that got in my way! UGH! My company car has a few bruises. The passenger door and fender will have to be replaced. I'm just glad that mom was okay, since the other driver hit her side of the car! (Obviously, this photo is in daylight. And, my accident was at night)!

Thanks for a nice visit Beth. Too bad, I didn't take any photos of your clean basement. I hope it is staying tidy! Enjoy the rest of that Iowa Winter!

quite lovely.

i might have to grab a pair of these this weekend when i am in iowa city visiting beth. very pretty sister.

Everyone loves a contest!

Go to Lola B's shop and enter.

inspiration attic.

i finally looked through the arhaus 2009 catalog and fell in love with these patchwork chairs. this might be the inspiration i need for my attic update. who wants to help paint?

action abstraction

On New Year's Eve, I joined Beth and Tom for a tour of the current exhibition at the Saint Louis Art Museum Action/Abstraction. Action/Abstraction: Pollock, de Kooning, and American Art, 1940–1976 is the first major U.S. exhibition to reconsider Abstract Expressionism in over 20 years.

My favorite painting was Jasper Johns Numbers in Color (shown here). The interactive portion of the exhibit was also quite fun and I left many messages for and about Beth and Tom.

I am excited to also join the SLAM as a Sustaining Member, which will allow for reciprocal memeberships across the country at art museums including: The Art Institute of Chicago and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

Go see this exhibit today. Don't wait too long, it ends on January 11th.

phone call from key west

Tonight, I received a phone call from Brooke, Adam and Tracy. They were screaming with excitement for me to find a computer. I typed in the address they yelled into the phone, and this is what I saw. They were in front of a LIVE webcam at Duval's in Key West. I love it!