Tea Cup Tuesday

I’ve been reading my friend Becky’s blog for a long time now, and have always adored her tea cup collection. So today, inspired by Becky, I’m very pleased to join Terri of Artful Affirmations, and Martha of Martha’s Favorites for Tea Cup Tuesday!

I received this tea set for my birthday yesterday, from my boyfriend. He really nailed it in regards of birthday presents – I’ve had my eye on similar tea sets, but have always talked myself out of buying one. Truth be told, I managed to, because the ones I’ve seen were smaller than this one and I love my tea way too much to drink only two sips of it.

The above set it the Katie Alice English Garden Tea For One. I love that it’s a great size, the teapot holding two servings of yumminess for the teacup under it. That equals to one good-sized cup of tea; plus, it keeps the tea hot for a long time!

Its teapot section is decorated in a pretty floral motif and other elements from the English garden, such as bees, birds and butterflies woven into this classical design. The cup and lid are simply adorned in delicate white spots on a pale blue background.

Happy tea partying

Dear Monday, 20.May.2013

I won’t wish for much at 26 years old, but if the coming years are as sunny as this morning – it’s enough to make me wake up with a smile

~K.

Have you named your curtains?

We had some fabrics on sale at the shop in February. Since our curtains at home were old, I quickly took measures, summed things up, cut the fabrics, sent them off to our shop’s sewing station and paid for them in advance – before anyone in management figured out I’d added my 25% off to the newly discounted prices.

No one noticed. *relieved sigh* So now we have new curtains at home. They’re pretty (though I wouldn’t have bought them otherwise.) The ones in the kitchen are Sophie, in my mother’s room, ElGreco and in my room, Hillary. These are the fabrics’ names, but I see them fitting. Have you named your curtains?

Interesting how a seemingly small thing like changing curtains can revive entire rooms.

Next month, if finances permit, drapes!

Looking back, 2012 on camera

Following is my year in review, 2012 caught on camera. I took some of them during my Seasonal Photo Challenge. Some, outside of that box’s contents, just because.

And, while going through my pics from last year to choose only 12 for this blog post, I noticed: 2012 wasn’t all that bad.
If 2013 ends up being only half as good, it’ll still be awesome!

  

Want to join in? What was your 2012 like? Leave me a link in the comments to your photos

My intentions for next year

I stumbled across one of artist Emily McDowell’s illustrations on Facebook last week. About it, Emily says: “In between all the holiday insanity, I’ve been thinking a lot about my intentions for 2013. How will I be with myself? How will I show up for myself and others? Where do I want to go?” Those questions inspired her to create this piece, recently added to her shop.

Her illustration, and the same questions inspired me to form my answers and end this year’s blogging with this declaration of my intentions for 2013.

For a writing declaration: I’ll join the Mindful Writing Challenge and write one small stone every day of January 2013.
It won’t be much length wise, for sure, but it will get me in the habit of carving out at least fifteen to twenty minutes of writing, ever single day.

As for a reading resolution: I’m challenging myself to read 25 books this year. In case things will be cool at work for a while, I might up that to 30 books.

I will also give up buying something else and buy one book each month in 2013. Who knows, if I’m lucky, I might just buy one of those on a trip somewhere in a different country.

Your turn. What are your declarations for next year?

Dinner among friends

Instead of a simple Recipe of the month post, let me share with you guys a dinner with friends. We took the recipes off the internet, and everything came out wonderful. There were NO leftovers.

Hope it sparks your curiosity and gives you some great ideas for New Year’s party’s menus.

We had:

• Sliced Baked Potatoes – will open a “save” file
• Sautéed Mushrooms, Peppers and Onions – will open a “save” file
• Honey-Mustard Pork Chops – will open a “save” file
• with Beets Salad – the simple version

Bon appétit!

Have yourself a merry…

“ It’s not always the gifts that are wrapped
which are the best,
but simply those that are shared.
Gifts of time, love, and laughter…
Happy memories that warm the heart
at Christmas time and always.”

May the holiday season bring You joyful memories,
snug moments and may the coming year abound
in good luck and happiness!