Monday, September 19, 2016

What's In My Closet? Endless Summer Dreams

I keep saying it over and over...but it's true!
Time flies!!
Now, for all you Autumn lovers, (and I know there are quite a few of you out there) this may be good news. For we can officially say it is fall in just a few days. But, for this summer-lovin' girl, I get downright depressed! Oh, what I wouldn't do to enjoy an endless summer!! - I dream that maybe someday when the hubby and I retire that could actually become a reality!
Till then, I will have to say we have had some gorgeous September weather, so far! Most days are in the upper 70's to lower 80's and sunny. The evenings do get cooler, but I don't mind it, as we often end up sitting around a campfire by the lake. 
I also get to wear my summer outfits a little longer! Won't you join me as I once again share from
What’s in My Closet?

Outfit #1: Feathers and Fringe
As I have shared in past posts, I love wearing summer dresses! This tie-dyed maxi skirt is light and airy, as is the feather printed top.
I purchased this purse and these sandals at different times at Meijer. Hard to believe they didn't come together, as they match each other perfectly! They were even made by two different companies...purse by Massini...sandals by Lulu.
The necklace is one I restored by adding an old leaf motif from a previous necklace to the short ball-linked chain.


Outfit #2: Royal Blue Is Best
Blue is definitely my favorite color! And royal blue is the best shade of blue, ever!! Here is a cute summer top (T.J. Maxx) and a matching blue capri length pants. White flip flops keep the blue and white theme going.
I actually got the striped sunhat at CVS Pharmacy. Yep, they sell hats and sandals, etc.! I got the royal blue purse at Walmart. This outfit is definitely color-coordinated. My doggie friends and I, relaxing on my cottage porch.

Outfit #3: Workout Wear
I have been trying to get at least a few days of workouts in each week. To help motivate me, I purchased some activewear.
The black and white top is light and airy for those hot days, when I do leg lifts, sit-ups, and ride bike or take walks.
I love the T-back design of my top. I have had the white painter shorts for many years. They are extremely comfortable, so I wear them often through the summer months.

Outfit #4: Tie-dye Maxi Dress
My last outfit is one of my summer faves! Yes, another tie-dyed dress!! What can I say? I really love them!! I accessorise it with my blue cloth handbag.
Also, a new scarf, made by a dear friend, Michelle Bengtson, in dedication to her new book, "Hope Prevails".
Another T-back design adds appeal to this summer dress!
I wear these aqua/green sandals with this outfit.
Other accessories include some colorful long necklaces and this "hope" bracelet, also a gift from Michelle Bengtson!

Unfortunately, summer will eventually end, here in Indiana! But, I am definitely taking advantage of the nice warm weather for as long as I can. Thanks for checking out my summer outfits. May you enjoy the remains of the season as well!!
  
“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” 
Linking over to these blog parties:
Creative Collection Link Party @ Blooming Homestead     
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Thursday, August 25, 2016

Something Fishy Tablescape

Welcome, Cairn Cottage Friends!
Here we are already at the end of August! Where does the time go?
Being that we live on a lake, I love to collect "fish" decor. I also love to decorate with the color blue.
As you can tell below, I decided to share some of my "fish" items in this nautical-themed tablescape.

This fish serving platter is my centerpiece and a favorite find. I had a similar plate years ago that got broken and had been looking for another one ever since. I found this at one of my favorite stores, T.J. Maxx.
These little wooden fish and fish basket were a garage sale find, of which my hubby purchased with many other "lake-themed" decor items one day while driving home from work. I love the rough, old look of the faded painted wood.
Of course, my collection of tea(or coffee) cups never ends.This whimsical fish cup caught my eye, too!
Sea turtles, starfish, and seashells surround two other matching teacups I recently collected.(Here is one of those cups)
My white seashell and starfish cup and saucer have been a part of my collection for a few years. I think it is so unique and goes well with my nautical theme.
I also came across these nautical plates at T.J. Maxx several months ago and couldn't pass them up.
The tableclothe, matching napkins (in my clear water glasses) and blue and white nautical placemats were all purchased in the sale isle at Meijer. Talk about hitting the lottery!!
I couldn't have found a more perfect color coordinated, nautical-themed display of items! It just makes me wonder if something "fishy" is going on...LOL!
I may just have to serve fish for dinner!!
  
“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” 
Linking over to these blog parties:
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Inspiration Monday Party @ I Should Be Mopping the Floor
The Inspiration Board Link Party @ Homework
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Tuesdays With a Twist @  Stone Cottage Adventures 
Clever Chicks Blog Hop @ The Chicken Chick
Wake Up Wednesday @ Sew Crafty Angel
A Morning Cup of Joe @ The Cottage Market
Flaunt It Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring 
Creativity Unleashed @ Shaken Together Life
Creative Collection Link Party @ Blooming Homestead     
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Thursday, August 11, 2016

Favorite Summer Activities

Hello, Cairn Cottage Friends! 
I hope you have been enjoying your summer. I can't believe that it's mid-August already! Summer seems to fly by way too fast for my liking! I know for some of you, it's back to school time for your kids already. My hubby and I were just talking about the days when our kids were in school and getting them ready and that we were glad to not have to think about that anymore, as empty-nesters. 
The heat in the Midwest has limited some of our activities, like fishing and outdoor projects. But even with the very hot and humid weather, I would prefer a few more months of this over the snow and freezing temps! 
 I definitely made due...like sitting on my air-conditioned 4-season porch and surfing the internet...
...sipping on (hot or iced) tea. I had to share this cute frog tea set that I got recently at an antique mall. Isn't he the cutest thing?
Fishing on hot, humid days required some interesting maneuvers, like floating on an air mattress while throwing a line out. But we have caught LOTS of fish this year (actually we have already beat our record for number of fish caught in a summer - over 600 bluegill, perch, bass, catfish, Northern Pike, and crappie!!!), which we have filled our freezer with for the coming year!
 I attended the local fair with my mom also, an annual activity we do together. Boy, was it ever a very hot day!!!
We saw the animals...my favorite are the llamas! :)
And there was a really cool live butterfly exhibit that allowed us to walk through a tent with many butterflies in it.

 My uncle, who is a very talented wood-carver, entered this piece in the fair and won grand champion!! Way to go, uncle Max!! 
 Our vegetable garden continues to provide many veggies for us. From my green beans (that have provided several gallon ziploc bags of beans for us to freeze for the winter)...
(Just for comparison, check out a picture of the beans back in June.)
...to my hubby's pepper and tomato plants!


 My flowers have done exceptionally well in the heat, as well!



Needless to say, summer at Cairn Cottage has been good!
I know it won't be long till Autumn will be here and it makes me sad to think summer will soon be over. I definitely am taking advantage of every hot summer day. Actually, I think I will go take a dip in the lake this afternoon! 
Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer, too!!
   Ann 
“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” 
Linking over to these blog parties:
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Inspiration Monday Party @ I Should Be Mopping the Floor
The Inspiration Board Link Party @ Homework
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Tuesdays With a Twist @  Stone Cottage Adventures 
Clever Chicks Blog Hop @ The Chicken Chick
Wake Up Wednesday @ Sew Crafty Angel
A Morning Cup of Joe @ The Cottage Market
Freedom Friday @ My Turn for Us
Flaunt It Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring 
Creativity Unleashed @ Shaken Together Life
Creative Collection Link Party @ Classy Clutter, and Blooming Homestead     
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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Feature Favorites - No. 8


Welcome back to "Feature Favorites", where I will be featuring different blog posts, photos, and ideas that some of my favorite bloggers have recently shared. This time around, I am sharing some of my
Favorite Summer Posts and Photos:
Beach Bonanza
Follow The Sun
6 lessons in living (and entertaining) by the beach...Summertime rules at Sean MacPherson and Rachelle Hruska’s Montauk beachside retreat.
Explore inside Sean MacPherson and Rachelle Hruska’s Montauk beach house and learn their tips for living stylishly and entertaining in a cozy chic way by the beach.:

Decor and Design
At "Eclectically Vintage" Kelly shares some beautiful and unique summer house styles. From Victorian to American Colonial to Georgian to Cape Cod Cottage and more. Find which is your favorite! 
Love the row of peonies planted in front of this cape cod home eclecticallyvintage.com:

Foodie Finds

BREAKFAST BETWEEN FIELDS

Marta Greber found the perfect setting for her "Strawberry Cheesecake Chimichangas" - cheese and fruit tortillas in cinnamon sugar and a chocolate shake. What an interesting breakfast combination!!
Breakfast between fields / Marta Greber:
Fashion Frenzy
STAYING CHIC DURING SUMMER
At "Glam and Glitter" Travel and Fashion blogger, Tamara Kalinic shares her summer fashion secrets of "How to dress for temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius if you want to go shop with your friends, have some drinks or walk around the city."

Lake and Cottage Lifestyle
Cottage Style Decorating
One of the most charming aspects of cottage living is its natural, simplistic and bare-boned style. Sarah Richardson shares 16 Fresh + Simple Design Ideas.Cottage Decorating Ideas | Interior Design Styles and Color Schemes for Home Decorating | HGTV:

Fantastic Photography 

Once-in-a-Lifetime View

Photograph by Cory Mottice, National Geographic Your Shot
A rainbow adds magic to an already paradisiacal scene captured by Your Shot member Cory Mottice at Havasu Falls, Arizona. “The clouds looked promising for a decent sunset, so I left my campsite and headed up to Havasu Falls,” he writes. “Instead, I was treated to a once-in-a-lifetime view.”
Picture of a rainbow over Havasu Falls in Arizona:

Teatime Treasures
A Honey of a Tea Party over at "Teatime Magazine"
From pretty tea sandwiches that include a touch of honey to sweet honey desserts, here are some tea and honey treats that go together perfectly.
A Honey of a Tea Party:

Pet Portraits
Tremendous Travels
I have decided to combine the last two categories here for a very cool special blog post about pets that travel...At 
The Travelettes  "Meet the pets that travel more than you."(Including Monique the chicken, Amelia the sailing cat, Sailordog- the rescue dog, Leroy Brown and Miles - the goats, and more!!)
Day 854 - The conquest of Sicily has begun!:

Congrats to all these bloggers and internet sites!
Thanks for sharing your awesome posts! 
I hope my readers are as blessed by reading them as I have been! Feel free to use the button below to let your readers know that you were featured here!









Cairn Cottage







 Ann 

















“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” 







Spanish Proverb





Linking over to these blog parties:



















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