It's a "Cottage Cozy" kind of day...

Wake up college daughter...hand her coffee...

She's off to school and work.

Lunch is packed...after-school yoga clothes are remembered...bus is coming...
8th grade daughter off to middle school.

Husband kissed...wished a Happy Birthday...
off for his birthday massage!

Pod in Senseo...milk and splenda...whipped cream and pumpkin spice...
ahhh....time for latte!

Morning is not half-bad...

Hope your day started off cozy too...now off to visit my friends.
I must stop by and see Lisa, she is having Simmering Soup Week. Maybe I can get an idea for dinner. And I found a really lovely studio space when I wandered upon a "new to me" blog called
the T-cozy go visit Susan and her beautiful studio, you won't want to leave.

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A Glimpse at my Studio/Office

Well I tired to take some pictures of my home studio/office. It is a very cloudy day here in Portland so it was a bit difficult with the low lighting. My studio is in the loft of the 2nd floor of our home. I have a large work table and lots and lots of built-ins for all of my supplies. It is great, because it is all open so I can view everything at once and pick and choose what I need. I have a separate desk with my computer and printer and I am lucky to have a flat screen tv that is mounted on the wall so I can watch while I am working! There is a window seat under one of the windows. A nice place to take a break and relax for a moment. There is still room for a couch, so my daughters can stop and talk and visit with me while I am creating and working. I feel very fortunate to have such a nice roomy place to call my own. There have been many years that it was the dining room table or the garage! I even have an additional bedroom, adjacent to the loft that serves as my sewing room, extra storage and my photo taking area and packing and shipping department!
My two daughters that still live at home have their bedrooms on the the other side of the loft along with their bathroom....so I am never lonely!

It's nice to have most of my supplies visible and within reach!

I have been known to sit at this window seat and watch it snow!

The window that you see here with the white blinds closed, looks out into an atrium built into the center of the house, the stairs are to the left.

Tons of built-ins for tons of storage!

A fun Valentine treat for someone you love!

It's a "Paper Valentine Cupcake"? Iced up and ready to serve!

This delicious goodie has paper curl frosting!

It is served on a vintage pedestal.

A "yummy" way to say "I Love You"!

The Valentine Bug has caught me!

The "Love Bug" has struck! I am excited to begin working on my new Valentine goodies. Once I started crafting and gathering my supplies, I noticed that many of my tools were right "in sync" with the Valentine spirit....red, white and pink! There's just something about pink that makes you feel so girlie and giggly...

I'll post my new creation tomorrow! Gotta get to work...or should I say play!

I made these "Valentine Tussie Mussies" last year for my girls! I filled them with my homemade chocolate bark.

Oh Those After Christmas Sales!

I really tried to look for items that I could use now, rather than the usual Christmas stuff that you have to store away for next year! And look what I found!

Boxed Deco Bead Chains from Borders! 50% off and each mini-garland is 16 feet long!

These beauties were from Pier 1...they are labeled "table confetti" but they are large faux diamonds that can be used in so many ways...1/2 off!

Here's my stash from Target...all for 75% off...Valentine's Day here we come!

Bows and garland...even the tape is on sale! (I stored up on that!)

I even found these hanukkah candles, perfect to use for birthdays and other celebrations throughout the year! They are larger than the regular birthday candles too...4" tall, and a box of forty four was only 62 cents! Thank you, Target!
I hope you have been able to get out and find a few post-holiday bargains too.
Now...time to get creative!