I should warn you that there will probably never be another post without a collage. I LOVE MAKING COLLAGES! It’s so much fun and so simple in Picasa.

My house is far from beachy. It’s warm and cozy, not easy breezy. I have never displayed shells in my house because they just didn’t seem to go. This year I decided to venture out and try something new…just a few shells around the house.

Pretty little starfish are my favorites. My kids and I buy a few new shells every year when we visit the Seaside aquarium, in Oregon. The starfish were purchased there as well. I teach a beach unit every year in my classroom. This year, instead of packing my shells away, I decided to display them. Now my house is warm, cozy, and a little beachy.

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/

I recently posted about Things I love. One of the things that made the list was Things With History. I love treasures that tell a story. Even more special is a treasure that tells part of my own story, and reveals a little bit about where I’m from. Kim posted about her love of old books and this got me inspired to share a few of my favorite old books.

My grandma (we call her Nanie) is 92 years old. She has recently moved into an assisted living home and we helped her downsize. There were so many bookshelves filled with very old books. Here are a few that made their way to my house.

They have the neatest old covers.

The inside of the cover is beautiful too! They just don’t make books like this anymore.

Here’s my favorite. This is a bible that was on my grandma’s bookshelf. Inside, it says, “For Our Dear Mother. From, Edith and Chester. August, 1927.” Edith and Chester were my grandmother’s parents. So, this bible belonged to Edith or Chester’s mother, my great-great-grandmother. How cool is that… just to know that I’m holding the same bible that my great-great-grandmother held.

There are even hand written notes inside the margins that were written during church services or bible studies.

I also have an old hymnal from Seattle Pacific College (now Seattle Pacific University). Both of my grandparents, both parents, several aunts, uncles, cousins, and I also went there.

If you look around my house, you’ll see that I decorate with lots of old books. To most people, that’s all they are… just old books. To me, they’re part of my history and it’s amazing to hold a little piece of history in my hands.

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in.

I was so excited when Layla, from the Lettered Cottage, came out with an e-book. I think I bought it the first day it came out. On page 21 of her book, she encourages readers to make a list of things they really love and inspire their home life and decorating. I thought this would be a great exercise for me to do.

Here’s my list:
warm colors

cozy feeling home
contrast – like the white shelves and brown baskets at Ballard Designs
quilts

farm feelings – old wood, antiques, barns
good smells – warm cookies, homemade bread
soft lighting
quiet
things with history
old keys
old furniture
fresh air

Then I asked my daughter. Here’s her five year old version of things that are really important to her:

Cooper
Petting Cooper
Loving Cooper

Playing games
The TV room
My family

I thought her list was very sweet. To sum it up, the most important things to her (inside our home) are family, pets, and activities we do together (like watching Chuggington and playing Uno). I thought it was really interesting that she didn’t mention her toys, other than family games.

Next I asked my husband and son. Here’s their response:

Looking at me like I’m crazy, my husband said, “We love you, but we really don’t care.” Hmmm… I’ll take that to mean, “We love you and everything about the wonderful home you have created for us. We love coming home to warm cookies and our cozy home. We love the work you put into making this a perfect place for our family to retreat at the end of a long day.” I can dream, right?

So, here’s a challenge for my 37 Followers, and anyone else who may stumble upon this blog. Make a list of the things you love that help you create the space you love to retreat at the end of a long day. Then go to Layla’s blog and buy her e-book. You will love it! She’s not paying me to say that either!