{ tara frey }:: typing out loud

Enchanted Forest...

from my window I can see it

 

the light billows through our windows and beckons us outside...

whispers of trees blowing

and the smell of leaves burning

the glowing season

my enchanted forest

the quiet, cozy week...

{a re-post from years past but still appropriate.  Except this time, we have a furry bundle of love in the midst of all this coziness.}

I love the week between Christmas and New Year's.  In the Frey home, it's a week filled with eating left overs, having cookies for breakfast, leaving toys strewn about, tree lights stay on all day and night.  Those new jammies are worn 24/7 {and the slipper socks too} A lazy week. A "cozy go nowhere" week, as we say in Frey speak.  It's a week when it's okay if people pop in on us and I'm not horrified if they see the mess and debris, because, well, there's been an explosion and everyone knows it. No need to explain.  The same explosion happened in their homes too.

I wish you all peace and happiness in the new year and hope all your dreams come true.  ~xo

A few of my favorite things right now during this quiet cozy week:

:: listening to music made by little fingers exploring a new guitar ::

 

:: the glow of the village at night  :: 

:: loving the winter light in our backyard ::

 
:: and quietly creating ::

 

making memories in the village...

Always a favorite, here is a re-post about our Christmas Town, come visit us

    My husband has a collection of a Christmas village town that has grown over the years. {possibly into a city with it's own zip code?}  Our daughter and him set it up every year on the cozy dining room sill. 

    It's so cute to hear her say every year without fail,  "I wish I was tiny enough to go inside one of these"  I hope it's a memory she carries into adulthood..remembering setting up the magical Christmas village with her daddy. Special time, just her and him.

Come visit us for a while in this lovely Christmas town...

   

First check in at the Oxford Hotel...

  

Hungry?  Yes.  You must be starving.  Let's grab some Italian:

   

I know we all love to read, so let's hit the library

 

How about a movie at the Rialto, the local theater...

 

Fresh flowers would be nice in your hotel room, my treat...

 

 

Antiques anyone?

   

It's time for some sweets, let's stop in at the bakery...

 

hold on to your pastries, the village raccoons are on the loose!...

  

Let's try our luck at the slot machines in the casino...

   

here is the house I would live in if I were small enough...

 

Drinks are on me at the local pub, you must be tired by now...

 

Hope you enjoyed your visit to our Christmas village, come back and stay anytime~xo

Enchanted Forest

When I woke up this morning, there was a glow coming from the backyard.  It made me think of my parents and how much I know they would miss this time of year here.

So mom and dad, this photo is for you.  I know sometime around February, when it's blistering cold and I'm chilled to the bone...I will be jealous of you waking up to 85 degrees.  For right now, there is an enchanted forest in our Pennsylvania backyard I wanted to share with you. -xo
 

the granny chair

 

     When this chair arrived 7 years ago, I was sick to my stomach.  Dear God, I just bought a granny chair. (and a purple couch to boot as you can see in the background)  This is the sitting room that is attached to our bedroom and was carefully planned out before we moved in with a talented decorator who recommended colors, fabrics, layout, etc.  

     I was overwhelmed and had a new baby to tend to (you know, the wedgie picking helmet head) and worked on the details with this designer (whose services were free from Ethan Allen...and you gotta love that?)  I remember calling in a panic saying this must be a mistake, take it back, blah blah.  She was so calm and just said "trust me, you will love it, and when all is pulled together it won't look like a granny chair, I promise"  Then in came a plaid french chair, pillows, a large ornate mirror that we propped up against the wall instead of hanging, and other accessories, etc.

 

     I posted about my favorite room here about 2 years ago. Do you have any decorating "dear god" moments?  Thankfully mine all pulled together nicely, just as promised.  The fabrics are so beautiful and were chosen with great care. (even with my half brain at the time) I highly recommend free design services whenever offered.  I haven't felt like a granny once!

gettin eggy with it...

 Like Will Smith gettin jiggy, the Frey fam (well, really just me) has been getting a little eggy.  Spring can't come soon enough and there are too many cold gray days in March here.  The laptop killer doesn't get it, since his first words when he came home from work were "what's with all the eggs?" 

So I come here for comfort, I know you all will understand and get eggy with me.

 

 

 

 

ps:  have you started any Spring decor?  Post a link in the comments so we can all be inspired! xo

in sink

 

    Torn from the pages of this months Country Living Magazine, this "rip" is going into the bulging design binder I keep and filed under "laundry room re-do" dream . Right now our mud room is living up to the name.  Muddy boots litter the floor, coats strewn about, a paint stained sink in the corner and not a day goes by that I don't almost break my neck carrying laundry and tripping over something. 

In my dream,  I now trip and fall over fresh cut hydrangeas while trying to get to my beautiful sink ...

come stay at our Christmas village...

    My husband has a collection of a Christmas village town that has grown over the years. {possibly into a city with it's own zip code?}  Our daughter and him set it up every year on the cozy dining room sill. 

    It's so cute to hear her say every year without fail,  "I wish I was tiny enough to go inside one of these"  I hope it's a memory she carries into adulthood..remembering setting up the magical Christmas village with her daddy. Special time, just her and him.

Come visit us for a while in this lovely Christmas town...

   

First check in at the Oxford Hotel...

  

Hungry?  Yes.  You must be starving.  Let's grab some Italian:

   

I know we all love to read, so let's hit the library!

 

How about a movie at the local theater...

 

Fresh flowers would be nice in your hotel room, my treat...

 

 

Antiques anyone?

   

It's time for some sweets, let's stop in at the bakery...

 

hold on to your pastries, the village raccoons are on the loose!...

  

Let's try our luck at the slot machines in the casino...

   

here is the house I would live in if I were small enough...

 

Drinks are on me at the local pub, you must be tired by now...

 

Hope you enjoyed your visit to our Christmas village, come back and stay anytime~xo

Cozy place...

     One of my favorite places in the house is this window sill in our dining room.  A sweet little spot to curl up on and take a rest. Especially on a rainy November day like today. Right now I am using the dining table to write this book.   It's kind of strange, knowing I have an office with an actual desk like most normal people, and even a studio with a big table.  But for some reason, I feel good sitting here under a large vintage and sparkly chandelier, close to the kitchen and all the hub-bub, a nice space with high ceilings, surrounded by my plates and trinkets.  Yes, this book will be written on a Swedish dining table and not on a desk.  The window sill is a good place to take a break, the room is a good place to write.  And an even better place when my little one joins me with her own pink quilt.  I usually leave it on the sill all day as a reminder that she and her brother will be home soon from school and the wild noise that I love will fill the house and disrupt for a while.  She'll crawl under the quilt which she left early in the morning and tell me about her day and ask me about mine.  We talk, giggle, have those thought provoking conversations and watch the leaves fall.  A good cozy place indeed.

The new man in my life...

      First up, thank you for your comments and personal emails about my news. I'm still tingling and loved reading them and visiting your blogs, more info on the book to come!  a big warm fuzzy and heart felt THANK YOU :)

    Off topic a bit...I want to introduce you to a new resident to our home {and the new man in my life}.  He likes to be called Steely Dan.

     Many moons ago, I posted about my fridge chaos.  Steely Dan will not put up with magnets, he's a neat freak.  In fact, if you try to put a magnet near him, he will catapult it about 5 yards onto the floor.  No, nope, he won't have any magnets.  So don't even think about putting up the kids drawings or photos, or the doctor's reminder cards that usually hang there for 2 years after the appointment date, or the cheesy magnets from the local heating & air conditioning guy or the local realtor that you never call. He hates all of that.  And if the kids leave the doors open by accident he BEEPS at the top of his lungs.  He won't stop beeping until you jump up, run and shut the door.  He can be so demanding.

     The only thing I found that my new man loves, is...well,  fingerprints, and lots of them.  

Mural Mural on the wall...

     When we were building the house I knew I wanted a "secret" door that led into the kids playroom.  I don't know why, I just thought it would be cool.  I found inspiration from an old article in Romantic Homes and kept in my overflowing inspiration binder pictured above.

     When the workers were buidling the house they referred to it as the "doggie door"  I guess they didn't see my vision?  Although they did have enough sense to tell me that the kids won't be small enough to fit through the tiny door forever and I should prepare myself.  I remember holding on to my giant belly at the time, since I was 9 months preggers, and thought to myself how could they be saying this to me?!  They went ahead and framed a normal size door around the "doggie door" so that it could easily be transformed.  Neither of the kids fit through that door now (and haven't for a while.)  Kids do grow up, I found out.  The builder was right.

     The little door leads into my son's bedroom.  He now has it barricaded with his bed in front of it blocking the little door from the inside and then tied with rope and a slingshot (like a soldier waiting for his enemy in battle.) No one can get in and if you do make it through, you'll get hit in the head with a rubber ball from the slingshot. The charm is lost.  But at least I have photos to reminisce?  It was featured in Romantic Homes magazine many moons ago (see here ) , which I'm grateful for since I can see a few years from now, the little door will be a big door, the mural will be gone and replaced with some sort of skateboarding posters, and stickers all over the walls from my daughters Miley Cirus collection...I'll walk past and see teenage boys hanging out playing video games, music blaring, and my daughter and her friends crank calling boys in their class...oh god.. the builder didn't prepare me for all of that.

 

Sort of a Hansel and Gretel house?

This photo is looking into our son's bedroom (before the preparations of enemy intruders):

This view is from our son's room looking back into the playroom:

Summer Lovin...

   

   Really it should be summer "lazing"...since we're already enjoying the start of the long lazy days of summer. The kids have just started sleeping in a little later since school let out.  For a few days they were waking up at 6am.  Hello?  go back to bed!  Right now I am lovin' the pops of color in our garden, hearing the sounds of the kids home all day and the slam of the back screen door at least 30 times a day (ask me again in mid July and I may change my answer) But for now, it's summer lovin' around here.  There's even a new toothless grin from our daughter.  She was the last 7 year old on earth in class to lose any top teeth, and she was excited to lose both on the same day.  So many sprinkles of joy come in the summertime?  Her hair will soon be turning that sun-kissed light blonde (the kind of color us mommies pay big bucks at the salon to achieve) and she and her brother already have started on their dark bronze tan (a gene that they definitely inherited from their daddy!)  It's nice to enjoy this time before summer kicks into gear with camps, vacations, and I once again become a taxi driver, pool lifeguard, master of all sunscreen, picker upper of wet towels, keeper of calamine lotion, movie escort, lightning bug jar getter, referee, tutor, lunch maker, etc..

But here is what I really should be doing: cleaning up my studio disaster area, take a look...

    I tell myself that cleaning and chaos will always be there, but the lazy days of summer come and go too fast.  So I hope you all are enjoying some bit of laziness too and maybe even a toothless grin of some sort?~ xo

Trash duty...

     My husband's business partner found this old sewing desk/table on the side of the road headed for the trash...he instantly thought of his "junk collecting" friend's wife (ahem...that would be me) He snatched it up and threw it in the back of his truck.  I was so excited when my husband brought it to me!  I found the perfect spot for it at the end of our upstairs hallway.   Everything about it was perfect... size, shape, aged color, etc.. Nothing to do but give it a good wipe and plop it down in it's new space.  There are little drawers inside and each had hidden treasures, from the handtyped instruction booklet to old bobbins and such.  Perfectly chipped in all the right places too!  You never know what you'll find on the side of the road (and it's always nice to have others on 'trash duty' on the lookout for you too!)~xo

 

Your home safe now little table...where you instantly went from trash to treasure!

Some goods from Home Goods...

     Love to find some great buys at Home Goods!  They have the best stuff at the best prices.  So here is a little tour of some goodies I picked up. (I went a little overboard on the eggs, but couldn't resist!)

     I think the cloche was $9.99 and I used my great grandmother's silver plate for the bottom.  Birds nest galore and more eggs than I know what to do with!  I plan on filling them in my apothecary jars after I take out the Valentine stuffings!

remember it's mantel, not mantle lol!

This clock was a bargain at $7 bucks!

This wrought iron (and very heavy!) garden chair was $29.  Here is a before shot:

I added a table runner and pillow to dress, which instantly created a cozy nook in the kitchen!

cute egg wreath that I hung with silk ribbon from the kitchen sink window

this flower bucket was a bargain and I bought some inexpensive "twiggery" to stuff it

Deck The Halls (and get some light bulbs)...

     Here is the foyer window (waiting patiently for it's pretty custom curtains).  It takes a long ladder just to put up a candle in the bare window, only to realize the bulb isn't working! ACK!  I quickly shout, "No worries honey I have a drawer full of them"...and then discover that none of them work either!  Ok...on to plan "B"...

...and steal some from the chandelier by the coat closet

and don't forget a drink for my thristy worker...that should smooth things over

     Now let's get down to business and unpack these boxes!  Don't you love finding treasures you have long forgotten about?  (well maybe since last Christmas!) Below are some crafties I made when pregnant with little man.  It was during my tole painting primitive ish stage...I still love them and remembering the excitement painting them, 9 months preggers...

And my love of anything with mercury glass will never die

Winter floral arrangements...

and little corners

Here is a handmade ornament my brother made for the foyer tree (it's a picture of his dog Dixie and we laugh every year when we hang it)

other pretty ornament treasures from friends and family...

Stay tuned for part II of our Holiday Home Tour.  We have one tree up and one more to go and a lot more boxes to unpack (and bulbs to buy!)~xo

Tassles & Dazzles...

     Here is a quick shot of the Target curtains I talked about here.  My talented seamstress added some *tassle dazzle*.  Now they look custom and I love it!  A girl can never have too many tassles?!

     Speaking of dazzle, I ordered this beautiful paperweight from Janet at ShabbyFufu.  It came packed with goodies in true FuFu style.  Such a unique idea and a beautiful gift for someone special on your list!  I mentioned Janet and her home in Florida here in a previous post.  You can find these beautiful paperweights at her store here ~xo

Getting There...

   

     I have been a bad blogger lately!  Thank you Chris  for reminding me!  Looking back on my last entry, I think she may be right! Let's see...my foyer looks like a bomb went off with boxes of Christmas decorations.  The boxes have magically moved, doubled and spread out onto the front porch and into the dining and living room.  It looks like we are moving!  The foyer tree is up.  whew.  now it has to be decorated.  We usually have two trees every year, one in our family room and always a big tall foyer tree that we decorate with ornaments brought by our guests and family at Christmas time.  (I have only one rule each Christmas, you must bring an ornament for the foyer tree!)  Some are handmade and some are store bought, but each one means so much to us and I love looking back on them and remembering the friend or family member who hung it the year or two before. I am covered in glitter and sparkling from head to toe!  Here is a quick tour and I'll bring you more shots as we go along.  Happy decorating!~xo

Night glow from the staircase:

Nesting...

     Wow! Thanksgiving flew by?  Things seem to be moving so fast, it's hard to keep up!  I thought I would come up for air and pop in here.  I had a chance to read some of your blogs and it sounds like everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I know we did!  Surrounded by loved ones...all of us complaining how stuffed we were..top button on pants unbutton..kids and their cousins running around like puppies ...funny family stories and laughter at every corner.  It doesn't get any better than that!  It was a jam packed weekend after the Holiday.  My husband & I attended his 20 year high school reunion... can you believe the turn out was over 300 people?  It was amazing to say the least.  And this little cocktail dress came in handy for the special night.  I think, to date, I have purchased at least 8 ensembles for upcoming events and I will admit... it's getting ridiculous.  Someone stop me!  I'm sure if I looked hard enough I could find something in my closet, but I can't resist buying something new for an event or party!

     We seem to be in a "nesting" mood around here.  I purchased the print below on sale for $12 bucks!...it was rolled up in a corner of a store going out of business.  I took it to my local framing shop (and spent way more than I wanted to), but it turned out so beautiful in the end!  Crackled black, gilded molding, marbled matting, non- glare glass and presto...my small print turned into a huge wall hanging, perfect for the foyer!  Also, as part of this "nesting" thing we have going on....we are talking about knocking down the half wall between our family room and kitchen, re-doing the guest room, getting a new bedroom set for little man, and my favorite project:  finishing the basement, complete with play areas...one for kids and the other for adults!  It's my husband's dream area, so he has big plans and I'm letting him run the show.  His list consists of the usual things ..pool table and game area, bar, built ins for a giant TV to watch movies (oops! I mean football games!) 

     I am working with a local talented seamstress on new window treatments for the foyer and bedroom.  Plus, she is spoiling me with these gorgeous pillows!  She also ripped down my Target curtains in my home office right off the rod and she plans to add tassels, fringe and *dazzle* for a custom look inexpensively.  Love her style!

     And as the days get colder here and we are busy with Christmas around the corner, I am comforted by the little things around my home...I think it's because our project list seems overwhelming, I am appreciating the smaller things right now!  Happy nesting to you~ xo

The Hunt For Burnt November...

     That’s the only way to describe the color candles I was looking for. I wanted something not too red or not too orange, just a nice mix that will take me through the season and into January. So "Burnt November" is the name I gave the color. Searched high and low for them for the foyer project. Found these at a local store right down the street. Funny how things you are looking for are always right under your nose? Speaking of nose...mine is stuffed...I have some kind of head cold, but nothing like the bug a boo I had a while back.  Just the change in season perhaps. Not getting much work done! Now...speaking of "burnt", below is a peek of a super cool project in the works!

     We are going to a fund raiser tonight, the theme is "Casino Night" which means I need to make a quick trip to WhiteHouseBlackMarket for that perfect cocktail dress!  Our weekends are already booked all the way through January... I can't even believe it, but I guess it's that time of year!  I need to find plenty of ensembles to wear to more than one occasion! Have a fabulous weekend~xo

   

Floor Comfort...

     Had a bunch of these comfy floor pillows made for the kids by the talented Di from Petticoat Junction .   Just grab a handle and go!  They are super large and machine washable with snuggly removable inserts.  Our floors are all hardwood, so this gives the kids cozy time on the floor.  The pillows were inspired by Carolyn Westbrook Home and fit into our cottage style decor in our family room just perfectly (not an ounce of shabby or pink!) ~xo