Do You 'Pinterest'? {An Inspiration Sharing Website}

"Everything you can imagine is real." -Pablo Picasso

Perhaps it's because I'm usually the last to know...perhaps it's because I don't spend enough time online researching the niftiest sites and resources available to those of us who like nifty sites and resources...or perhaps it's both - but I am just now discovering the beauty of an inspiration sharing site called Pinterest. What is Pinterest? From their FAQ page:

"Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste... We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world."

Sounds intriguing, yes? I love that you can create your own collections, or "boards" and then "pin" the photos and ideas you love to the appropriate board. For instance, my boards so far are 'Home Decor', 'Home Exterior and Garden','Party Decor', 'Sweets and Such', 'Tutorials', 'Fashion', 'Quotes', 'Humor'...and probably some more that I'm forgetting...and I'm just getting started! When I find photos I like either on Pinterest or other places on the web or on my computer, I can 'pin' them to one of my boards. Then, whenever I pin anything, anyone that is my Pinterest follower will see what I pin - and can have the option to pin the photo to one of their own boards, comment on it, 'like it', or do nothing at all. :) Come to think of it, it's kind of like a visual Facebook or Twitter for photos and ideas! I sure hope all this makes sense...ha!

Months ago, I did stumble upon Pinterest and "requested an invite". I didn't get one {seems maybe they were trying to slowly add members?} and I just kind of forgot about all of it, not really even knowing what it was. But last week, I requested an invite once again and got accepted in a day or so. I *think*, though, that whoever I personally invite to Pinterest gets accepted immediately. It seems that way so far, anyway.

Soooo..... if you have not joined Pinterest but would like a personal invite, email me your email address and I'll send you one! You don't have to have a personal invite to join, of course, but hopefully you'll get to join up faster if you do have one.

If you are already a Pinterest member {or you aren't but you'd still like to see} , check out my boards {so far} at http://pinterest.com/TwiceRemembered/ and if you are interested in following me there, I'd be honored! {I follow back!}

Below are just a few of the photos that I've pinned in the last few days. Really, anything that you can imagine finding in a glossy magazine, you'll find on Pinterest. It's the best of the web {each photo contains a link to it's original source on the web, which I love for additional photos and info, such as for tutorial instructions,etc.} with fresh inspiration added by hundreds or thousands of people daily.


































Can you tell I'm hooked? If you are hooked, too, or get hooked, let me know!

P.S. Ruby is getting better. She can walk some on soft surfaces and the grass, but is having a harder time with the hardwood floors. She'll get there! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and well wishes!

The Cottage Charm Giveaway Winners are.....!

Can you believe it? The 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway has come to a close. What a blast we had! I want to thank ALL of you for participating, especially all the dear giveaway hostesses who offered such beautiful and generous gifts to their visitors. I hope you were able to "meet" lots of new people and discover many new lovely blogs this month, because really, that's a big part of what makes this annual event so special! I'm looking forward to next year already!

Now, just visit my dollhouse kit giveaway and handpainted sign giveaway to see who won... I wish it could have been all of you! {Winners were chosen by Random.org} Congratulations to the winners of all 49 giveaways this year!

49 Cottage Charm Giveaways - A Few Hours Left to Enter to Win!

Hours are remaining for the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event! Have you visited the 49 blogs above to enter to win all the charming items being given away this year? If not, click on the banner below while there is time left! {Winners of the giveaways will be announced tomorrow, May 29th, on all the participating blogs.}

This year, I'm giving away a miniature dollhouse kit and a handpainted black and white subway style sign. So be sure to stop in today and sign up!

Have a beautiful Saturday, everyone!

My Cottage Charm Giveaway #2- Handpainted Wooden Sign

5/29 Update: AND THE WINNER IS....Peggy Crawford! Congratulations, Peggy! You can contact me with your address and I'll get this sign shipped out to you! Thank you to everyone else who participated by entering to win and those who "liked" my new Facebook business page, She Could Fly. Even if you didn't win a sign this time, all She Could Fly Facebook fans will be automatically entered to win future sign giveaways. Thanks so much for all of your support and for visiting Twice Remembered!


Hello everyone! I'm a little late getting my 2nd Cottage Charm giveaway posted but fortunately there is still time left both for me and for you, too, if you want to add a giveaway of your own. My dear little Ruby the Doxie is under the weather with a herniated neck disk that has resulted in partial paralysis of her front legs. It has been very scary and heartbreaking to witness as she has not been able to walk since it happened yesterday. However, the vet feels a total recovery is possible but may take about six weeks of crate rest. It might even be possible to see her walking within a few days thanks to her medication. I'm hoping for the best but try not to leave her side often because she gets agitated and starts to thrash around. She is sleeping peacefully now (sedatives) so that means a few minutes for me to tell you about my second giveaway. (Click here to see the first...)

I thought this giveaway would be a good way to show you what I've been dabbling in lately - sign making! So I'm offering this wooden painted and distressed to perfection 12" x 9" sign as part of my second giveaway. Because I love words and quotes so much, I've been working on a collection of inspiring and interesting signs to offer for sale later in my new Etsy shop and I'm looking forward to sharing more with you. I had a hard time selecting the sign I liked best for this giveaway as I'm very pleased with how they've all turned out so far...but hopefully this Zelda Fitzgerald quote will be a 'winner' in your book.








There are a couple of ways to win this giveaway:

One chance to win- Just enter your name and a way to contact you in the comment section below

Another chance to win- Simply "Like" my new business page, She Could Fly, on Facebook. While my 'grand opening' has to be postponed a bit due to caring for my little Ruby for now, I would still love to be able to share with you what I've been up to with my shop, signs, and other items.

I will announce the winner on May 29th. If you haven't done so already, make sure you check out all the other charming giveaways in the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event! And remember, you still have time to enter your own giveaway...the more the better and there are alost 50 so far!

Miniature Patisserie Project

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Good morning, everyone. I hope this Wednesday morning finds you happy and healthy. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's going to be a hot one today. 91!

Hubs and I have been working on caulking and painting beadboard in our spare moments and things are really starting to shape up. I think I've mentioned this before, but white paint {on this beadboard, anyway} is very hard to cover. It's taking about 4 coats,plus the primer coat. A much slower process than I had anticipated but wow - finally my white cottage style beadboard! It really is what seems to be pulling "the look" together.

I thought that since I am giving away a new dollhouse kit for one of my Cottage Charm giveaways this month, I'd share a few photos of the kit I'm working on. It's the Storybook Cottage. I've gotten the main parts all glued together except for one side of the roof - I'm waiting until I install the wood flooring in the attic to glue down that side. I'll be using lightweight spackle on the inside to make the walls nice and smooth and then I'll be ready to add some trim work. I haven't yet decided how to finish the exterior - whether I'll use siding or some kind of sanded stucco or stone - or ...oooh...an aged brick foundation?!... {As if I didn't have enough decisions to make with our real house!} Ah, but this has been so much fun and I've enjoyed working on it here and there when I catch some snippets of down time.



This little house will become a little patisserie. A few months back I made the tiny pennant banner for a cupcake party I had for the girls and used it to decorate the miniature farmhouse kitchen. I couldn't resist {very prematurely} stringing it up in the patisserie for these photos just to get an idea of how sweet it could be.


The little attic space...


The floor has been stained a dark chocolate color. I was thinking about creating a white 1-inch diamond pattern on the floor as well. What do you think?


Oh polka dots! I have such a weakness for you!!!! Especially you red and white ones... *sigh*


I don't know where I'm going to put all these *little* projects that have stolen my heart with their sweetness. Our real house is tiny itself and I'm running out of space!


But I think the patisserie project is just fine right here for now. :)


Have a lovely day, everyone, and until next time, don't forget to keep checking in on the Cottage Charm Giveaway party going on this month. If you want to add a giveaway to the party, that's even better!