As many of you know over the summer we moved into a new home and my kitchen is now half the size of my old kitchen. Given that I regularly cook up to three meals a day this has been a source of ongoing frustration for me. First and foremost I purged all the dishes, gadgets and other paraphernalia that I had not used in over a year. That lightened the load considerably. The new kitchen layout was used how it best suited me and I took advantage of wire shelving to make the most of tight spaces. ... View the Post

My husband works for a large aeronautical company. Every year the company organizes a strictly volunteer fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Climb For Cancer. It is held in February on Phoenix’s South Mountain. The company provides T shirts that the participants wear. You are allowed to submit one name to be placed with 1oo’s of other names printed on the back. In previous years names such as Pop Gunn, Uncle Pete, and Grandma Karen were listed on the back of the shirt. Last year ... View the Post

Today is Epiphany. The twelfth and last day of Christmas. I am not really one to go around boasting “Look at what I got for Christmas…” But everyday, sometimes several times a day, I find myself walking into Sweet Boy’s room with a singular purpose: to look at, touch, and marvel at a piece of handiwork that has been over 100 years in the making. A few years ago Grandma Jingles led me into her bedroom and asked me to open her decades old hope chest while she sat on the bed. Together we ... View the Post

For our family so much of the magic of the season occurs in the kitchen. Holiday dinners, spiced cider, Christmas cookies and candy are all created in this one room. So in early November I tear it apart. I start at the top and dust the upper cabinets and go all the way to the bottom by wiping the baseboards. A deep clean. Because you know how wonderful it feels when everything just sparkles? Then it will only require weekly touchups throughout the busy holiday season. Some of the cleaning is ... View the Post

Happy Halloween from Décor To Abore! Welcome to Day 31 ~ Whooo Loves An Inexpensive Halloween Tablescape and Treats? Day 31 ~ Whooo Loves An Inexpensive Halloween Tablescape and Treats? Our family of four celebrated a day early as the Fashionista has to work on Halloween night. What a fright! I have to say we actually had a lot of fun with our feast. More so than when we are normally scrambling to get out the door to go trick or treating. I began by topping the table with a very old ... View the Post

Hurricane Sandy arrived with a vengeance. I have family in both Virginia and Pennsylvania and therefore I was and am watching closely and praying heavily. Cousin L in Arlington lost power. I found this image that made me weep. These men NEVER give up their post come hell or high water. Yesterday was a little bit of both. Cousin Sweet T in Pennsylvania also lost power and is currently still without it. School has been closed and people have been advised to remain at home. Halloween has ... View the Post