Simply Sunday ~ Tulips



Welcome to Simply Sunday!

We are introducing our fresh new blog look today!

I hope you all like it.  I was going for a very simple look that reflects my style.

It's a still a bit of a work in progress, as I have been DIYing the new blog look myself.

Who knew, I would attempt such a crazy thing?!

& Along with that...

On Sunday each week we will be celebrating the simple things in life here at The Corson Cottage.

Today is the first Simply Sunday here at the cottage.

I think it is so important to remember to take time to appreciate the simple treasures in life.

Each week we will have a different simple sweet treasure to share with you all.

With eveyone so busy living life and letting things pass us by in the blink of eye,

each of us must remember to always make time each day to appreciate the little things.

So, whether you are literally living the simple life on a farm somewhere in the Midwest.

Or enjoying the hustle and bustle of big city life in a major metropolitan area.

Or perhaps you have a great beach house on the coast.

Or maybe you just live on a ordinary block, on an ordinary street lined with cute bungalows.

Whether you are a woman or man.

Whether you are young & single.

Whether you are married, widowed or divorced.

Whether you are a busy Mom with three kids.

Whether you are still hoping to be that Mom.

Whether you are a Grandmother of 8.
If you are at a good place of happiness & content with life
or struggling through some up hill battle (it too will pass.)

We can all benefit from a simple moment filled with

the sweetest irresistible treasure life thows our way!

Just remember when this happens....STOP.

&

Take the time to enjoy that moment or treasure!

For life is short & you never know when you may be making a memory that lasts a lifetime.

It just may be the single best moment of your day or even your week....take it in.

This weeks simple treasure.

~Tulips~

This week I was at the market and came across these simple tulip bouquets.

I just had to treat myself & bring one home.

This simply sweet bouquet brightened up our home for a few days this week.

I don't buy fresh flowers often enough.  I LOVE them.

Do you buy fresh flowers for your home?

Do you plant tulips in your yard?

What simple treasure did you come across this week???

Don't have one this week...

Make sure to come back next week after you soak in some of life's specialities please.

I hope you find something Simple & Special to enjoy on this Sunday!

Carrie

linking up to
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
A Bowl Full of Lemons
It's Overflowing
The Shabby Creek Cottage

My Vintage Grain Sack ~ Collection

Over the last 2 years I have grown to have a bit of a thing for vintage grain sacks.

I'm not exactly sure what started it all.

There is just something about them that I really love.

Here in the heart of Iowa farmland,

 I come across them from time to time at my junking stops.

I can never seem to resist when I see them.

Normally I don't find several at once.

It's just the occasional 1 or 2 here & there, but they always seem to come home with me.

It seems kind of silly sometimes.

Because, to be totally honest, I don't even hardly use them in my decor.

I have never really been one to collect anything.

I realized my little grain sack obsession stash has become a little collection.

I've made some pillows with them in the past to sell at Dwellings.

I even peddled my wares on the street corners once for LeClaire's Market Days.
You can see them here.

Lately, I have been thinking of making more pillows.

What do you think?

I am even considering starting an Etsy shop.

(The only thing for now is, our home renovation has to come first.)

It may not be perfect timing for an Etsy shop just yet.

They would also be a great addition to the booth at Junk Asylum

 that I am sharing with my friend Cathy.

This option would be a little more flexible with my hectic schedule, for now.

Do any of you have an Etsy shop?

How demanding is it?

What are your thoughts?

I would love to hear your words of wisdom!

Do you like vintage grain sacks?

Do you have any collections you are a bit obsessed with?

I would love to hear about them.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Carrie

Linking up to
Funky Junk Interiors
Between Naps on the Porch
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Savvy Southern Style
A Bowl Full of Lemons

Thrifty Find ~ Vintage Chair

So, I have a new confession to make....

I have become a wee bit of a junker.

Yep, I said it.

I really never pictured myself as a full fledged junk kinda girl.

Don't get me wrong.  I love a great junk store as much as the next!

But me go searching for it?  Now, that is another story.

Well....uh...I AM NOW!

Imagine my surprise last week when the hubby & were on a casual Sunday drive along

the Mississippi River heading down the Illinois side of the river to meet up with his family for lunch.

I just love the drive. We were on tree lined road with old homes with lots of character and

driving past the occasional farm then looking up the bluffs at the huge estates on the hilltops.

It really is simple Midwest living at its best.

And then....

Me:  Uhh what the heck was that???

Hubby: What?  Where?  Why are you yelling?

You scared the heck outta me?

Me: Stop the CAR!!!

Hubby: WHY?  Is something wrong?

Me: Did you see that?

Hubby: NO!  What the HECK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

Me: OMG!  Go BACK!

Someone left these REALLY COOL chairs on the bottom of that lane!

Hubby: Are you serious....you want me to go back???

Me:  HECK YES!

TURN AROUND NOW!

Hubby: Ughhhhh.....okay.........

Ha!!! Haa!!! 

It was a trainreck trip!

So...yes we turned that car around and did a curbside junk & dash!

We hurried and grabbed these great vintage chairs!

Not just 1, not 2, but oh yeah...3 right there on the ol curb ripe for the picking.

What do you think???

Worth the embarrassment?

I say yes!

So, they are all definitely worn.

They will have to be recovered for sure like.



It really was the strangest thing to see these 3 chairs just sitting there all lonely

in need of someone to appreciate there inner beauty and bring them back to life.

Absolutely perfect timing too!

I actually had just taken a few of my older pieces to one of my favorite junk

shops Junk Asylum in Eldridge, Iowa to sell in my friend Cathy's booth just the day before.

She has been trying to get me to do it FOREVER!

This is the my year to follow through and do the things I always think about doing and never do.

Well, maybe someday.....NO MORE!

So, look for more to come on the ol junkin' booth stories!

 So these great vintage freebie chairs were a total SCORE!

Hope you all are having a great week!

Carrie

Linking up to
Its' Overflowing
Savvy Southern Style
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Savvy City Farmer
Common Ground
Miss Mustard Seed
The Shabby Nest
Whipper Berry
Funky Junk Interiors
Between Naps on the Porch

BIG NEWS!!!

GOOD NEWS!!!

After 6 long months....

WE FINALLY SOLD OUR HOME!!!

Today we accepted an offer on our home.

We still have a few steps to get through before it is all finalized.

{Home Inspection & Appraisal}

Crossing our fingers.....that all goes well!!!

It has been a while since I last posted.

Sorry for my absence.

We have just been really busy!

Lots of showings on our house (thank goodness).

For those of you who have been reading our story, you may recall

several months ago when we started the whole process of putting our home on the market.
Read about the week that started it all here.

Lots of updates, tons of DIY, paint, paint & more paint, curb appeal & staging.

You can read about some of our best projects below.

1. Bathroom Before & After
2. Back Porch Before & After
3. How to White Wash Wood Floors
4. Home Staging Tips
5. Living Room Before & After
6. Front Porch Before & After

Travis & I can not wait to start the next chapter of our lives!

If you are new here, my husband & I are moving back to

the charming small town where we both grew up in LeClaire, Iowa.

We have a great deal in store for the coming year!

Here is a peak at the next chapter of our lives!

We will be taking this little diamond in the rough from drab to fab!

This little beauty will be completely gutted from the inside out.

It will no doubt be one of the biggest challenges we have ever done!

But we are sooo up for the challenge.

Travis is a contractor so this is right up his alley

 & I get to live out one of my biggest dreams to help design my own home!

WIN!  WIN!

We will not be living in the home during the remodel.

My Mother has graciously offered up her home to be our crash pad.

Thanks Mom!

So, I hope you will join us on our journey!

We are so excited to share it with you!

Carrie

linking up to
Thrifty Decor Chick
It's Overflowing
Savvy Southern Style
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Common Ground
Whipper Berry
Remodelaholic
Funky Junk Interiors
Between Naps on the Porch

Looks I Love ~ Chic Modern Country

As I head into a new year.

I have done a lot of soul searching.

For me my home decor really has to speak to me, to my soul.

That is why it is ever evolving.....right along with me as I grow.

source

This year I really want to make sure that vision comes through in my designs.

You know that feeling when you walk into a space and it

can nearly take your breath away for just a moment? 

You soak in all the scents, all the texture & your senses are nearly on overload.

You nestle into that perfect serene escape and know it is perfectly "YOU".

You just want to stay there and never leave.

I want THAT feeling in my home.

Source

So, I thought I would do a few posts showcasing some of the

inspirations that really speak to my soul.

There are so many looks I Love.

I have a tendency to get a little lost, or stuck on one look for a while & back to another.

Do you do that too?

At times it can be really challenging for me to achieve that perfect balance.

I'm going to work really hard to try to achieve it from now on.

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I'm not sure what it is exactly....

I will always have to have a touch of country in my home decor.

I didn't grow up on a farm or anything.

I did however, grow up in small town surrounded by the lush corn fields of Iowa.

I just love the natural simplicity of a fresh country look.

My husband grew up on a farm so, it also brings a touch of him into our look.

I think for us Country is Comfort.

The comfort of our roots.

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Tip:

Do you have trouble finding balance in your decor style?

I have started making pin boards on Pinterest by Style Type category.

I encourage you to set up your boards by the styles you love.

Then Pin until your hearts desire.

After you have pinned each of your looks.

Make a combined Pin Board with your favorites from each.

Next, do a post of how to you plan to merry your styles.

Let me know if you try this!

I would love to see your Pins!

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Carrie

linking up to
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Savvy Southern Style
Home Stories A to Z

Snowed In ~ In Iowa

Well old man winter struck Iowa a little late this year.

He finally showed up last week though.

And has not stopped rearing his ugly head since.

We are snowed in!

Wa...Wah..Wah....

What to do???

Why not???

I will go ahead & kick some hubby booty in Scrabble!

I don't know why Travis always wants to play Scrabble with me.

I beat him every single time.

It never gets old:)

There is absolutely no chance of the Trivial Pursuit getting in this mix.

Because he is just unstoppable.

Have a Great Weekend!

Carrie

Our Next Project ~ Master Bedroom

I am getting ready to work on our bedroom a bit more.

It is one of the rooms in our home that never really was totally finished.

When we were crazy working to finish our projects and put our home on the market,

It got the it's good enough seal of approval.

Well, I think it's time I give the bedroom a little more of the TLC it deserves.

I don't plan to go overboard.
Just some finishing touches here and there, and well maybe a new quilt, some pillows, nightstands.

Please stop me anytime;)

Okay, so it's a bit of a sickness I KNOW!

But the room does not need any painting trim or major updates.

Just a few simple decor swaps.

our bedroom as it is now

And besides...any finishing touches we do, can all be taken with us to the new house.

(Reality Check.  Okay, so knowing me I will totally be on to the next thing by then.)

This is the speech I will give to the hubby when he wants to know why in the world

I am working on this house any more before we move.

Truth be told I am not the only one in the Corson household itching for a project...

Travis actually came to me and asked if I needed anything built.

Did I have any small projects in mind he could work on.

Yes, you read that right.

 WHAT The Heck???

Who are you & what have you done with my husband???

Do you have a pen & paper and a couple hours???

This will work out just perfect...I hope.

He can help me finish the bedroom!

I will dream something up for him to build.

It also gives me more reason to work on my decor updates!

Win Win!

Hope you are having a great week!

Carrie

Linking up to

The Shabby Creek Cottage