A Carefully Curated Life

Loving the Ordinary

5 Tasks for January that Organize the Office.

Here are my 5 must-do tasks for January—every year. Yes, every year. These 5 tasks make for smoother routines, schedules, and systems. Every January, pause amongst all the New Year’s Resolutions and Changes. Take the time to do these 5 tasks in January to set up your office, desk, and filing system for the year. Having these things clutter-free, stocked up, and filled out helps me conquer the ... View Post

Chocolate Spoons: the Tradition Explained

Chocolate spoons the extra special touch to a cup of hot cocoa Here is the story of how I came to make Chocolate Spoons every year. I always enjoy the flavor combinations. Every Winter, I make my favorite hot cocoa mix so that we can make a cup to get warm after enjoying the snow. A spoonful of cocoa mix has occasionally made its way into a cup of coffee. It is a great-tasting mocha latte. ... View Post

December Musings – Dreaming of Home

The 1st part of the Dreaming & Creating a Home Series Dreaming of Home: the Beginning Thoughts So why are my December musings dreaming of Home? The end of the year unquestionably leads to the start of a new one, a time for changes – for aspiration. Most of us started the year with aspirations or resolutions to lose weight, slow down, or stop smoking. So, as we end the year, I was ... View Post

Handmade Fall Leaf Notecards

This year, I have been gathering vibrant leaves on my morning walks. *A side note on why - our recently retired and adopted greyhound, Rosie, likes to take “sniff” walks. We saunter while she sniffs every blade of grass. I had time to find and pick up leaves to pass the minutes ~ wink & smile. Bringing them home I decided to put them in books to flatten, press, and dry. I didn’t know what I ... View Post

Thanks for Giving an Annual Tradition

Giving Thanks to the Extra-Ordinary People in Our Lives. This Thanksgiving, I'm going to ask one thing of you. It is Giving Thanks to the ordinary, extra-ordinary people in our lives and writing to those special people who have helped us in big or little ways. It is something that I found that I enjoy. Giving thanks is my annual tradition. I will write one letter to a person in November. Let ... View Post

Life as Art

I wanted to share this picture and quote by Helena Bonham Carter. As an illustration, it speaks to me about everyday life as art. Every day, we can celebrate our life in little ways. As I have said, it is “Loving the Ordinary.” I wish you all an extraordinary, lovely day. Don’t you like what it says – “Everything in life is art.” We create art daily if we take the time for the ordinary ... View Post