The Birthday Corner-January

January is almost over...and that makes me sad.  I love January, it is fresh and new and clean.  And it contains my Birthday.  I embrace every January, and every new year.  Many people dread gaining another year, but after I lost my dear little cousin Kelly at age 16 back in 2008 I welcome every Birthday with open arms.  Every year an accomplishment and a blessing I thank heaven for.

Starting in 2009 I decided we would have a "Birthday corner".  I love to decorate for EVERY holiday anyhow, so why not decorate for birthdays too?  So I pulled together trinkets and treasures that represent each person (at the time it was only Nathan and I) and placed them with various vintage birthday memorabilia.  This corner would stay up for said persons birthday month.

I happen to love vintage birthday decor, inspired by my FJ Partner Hollie (she has the best Candle collection ever!).  I have this vintage plastic cake with lid, I saw it on a junking day at a thrift store with a $14 tag on it.  Not wanting to spend that much I decided to skip it.  I regretted that for a whole year.  It had been perfect, not only was it vintage birthday, but it had the flower of January on it, Carnation!  I thought about it every once in awhile.  Last October while shopping that same store I found it in their sale bin!!! It had been marked down to...get this...$1.35!  It is now my new favorite decoration!

For Nathan's Birthday,  it is usually done up in vintage cowboy and camping decor.  And for Glenn...we will see what he brings out in himself to showcase!
When we have a month that is not a birthday I decorate for the Holiday or Season.  

I say Celebrate those you love, including yourself.  Each year, each breath, never take it for granted. We are given this life to Cherish...and to Celebrate!  Cheers!  Love, Jennifer

Old Hospital turned Hotel- The ultimate Re-purposed project!

Picture perfect Hospital turned Hotel!

Dr. Quinn Room My Cousin stayed in.

Peaceful porche over looking the old houses across the street.

Kitchen

Lobby

Beauty

Our Comfy bed!

2nd level hall

You are well taken care of!

Holly and I looking for ghosts!  Being silly!

Glenn and grandma LOVE the bed!

It is "Grey's Anatomy meets Gilmore Girls"!  The Stevensville Hotel was once the Thornton Hospital in Stevensville MT. Mom has been telling me about this hotel for a long time, she always stays there when visiting my Sister.  25 miles south of Missoula. We were visiting there this past weekend and decided it was time to check it out.  I was in Heaven!!!  The building was erected in 1910.  The first Hospital in the Bitteroot Valley Built by Dr. William Thornton, it was a working Hospital.  Nurse staff lived here too to care for patients.  You can read a full history and make reservations here http://www.stevensvillehotel.com/ .  The Town of Stevensville has a long history, I learned it was the first established town in Montana!  We enjoyed our stay, the rooms are a treat for the eye, and more comfortable than you could imagine!  We stayed in the "Recovery Room", a perfect name!  I loved that the rooms are named after the units they were!  My niece Holly and I went on a midnight tour (hoping to catch a ghost on film) we did not encounter anything too scary, but found treats waiting in the kitchen!  If you are visiting Missoula, it is worth the drive to stay here.  Or, just stop and visit if traveling Hwy 93!  The rates were incredible, the recovery room with 2 queen beds was only $85 (winter rate).  And the owners are a delight to visit with (they literally have sailed around the world and have decorated with their treasures!).  We loved it!  I think you will too!
PS  It is for Sale if you Reeeeeaaaalllyyyy love it and want to try your hand at being an Inn keeper!

A Happy...Truly Happy New Year

This has been the happiest year of my life.  I became a mom.  enough said.  I am so thrilled to see what 2011 brings!  Between the house, the farm, Glenn, Nathan, Funky Junk, Farmers' Market and Now adding Farm Chicks Back to my Junking trail I am sure it will be busy and full of fun!   So I wish for all of you a Truly Happy New year!  Find what makes you smile and hold on tight!  Love, Jennifer

Christmas House Part II "The wearing of the green...And Red".

My treasured trees Via FJ Hollie.

$1.99 scrore from Goodwill!

The pantry.

My collection of Holt Howard.

A gift from Carol Steinway, My favorite new piece.

My Dream home.

A more traditional route, I Love red and green at Christmas.  So familiar and vibrant!  I have also enjoy old Holt Howard Fiqurines for awhile now.  We had the feathered angel as a tree top growing up, so when I went on Ebay to find a replacement I was surprised to see the collections out there!  Some are other brands, but all have that 30's & 40's look I love!  I found alot at the Funky Junk show, the bell is from Ballyhoo Girl & the tall one (that looks like it is out of White Christmas) and the candycane guy are from Market Place Antiques Sdpt.  My Whitmans Chocolate sales display was in a box of Christmas treasue Carol Steinway gave me for Christmas (which will be a blog post in itself at a later date.) and I ADORE it!
I love how much Glenn has enjoyed these displays because he loves red so much, makes it all the more special this year!!  Thanks for visiting! ~Jennifer

Our Home for Christmas part 1 Pretty in pink & Turquoise

I do love pink.  I am a girl who adores all things pretty, and pink is top of that list.  Turquoise has been my most favorite color my entire life, so my kitchen is that.  When I started re-buying my Christmas decorations for some reason I started with my kitchen in mind.  I found a white tree after Christmas last year for $6!  And went from there, some ornaments are gifts, others found at the Funky Junk shows this past year, and some I had found at thrift stores and antique shops around town.  I love having a tree in the kitchen too, after all why not?  Happy Holidays!