This post is sponsored by Kathy Davis.
A few days ago I saw a picture of grilled chicken tossed with pasta and broccoli and tomatoes and topped with cilantro and bits of grated cheese styled on a plate that looked like summer with red and blue pattern and the tiniest of lemon wedges next to a glass of sweet tea.
It stopped me in my tracks.
Seriously.
I think I stared at the picture for ten minutes.
When was the last time I ate grilled chicken with cilantro?
When was the last time I put anything on a plate that looked like summer?
When was the last time I drank sweet tea from a glass that didn’t say Chick Fil-A on it?
When was the last time I treated myself?
Sometimes we all need a reminder to appreciate ourselves.
Sometimes we need to take a moment for ourselves snuggled in the middle of the living room with a book that may or may not have pictures or take a walk with a dog that wants to chase frisbees or plant hydrangea or draw a quote on a chalkboard or play music that makes us want to dance.
For 25 years, Kathy Davis has been creating beauty with her home products and stationary and beautiful bedding and reminding us all to love our homes and share joy and celebrate life’s moments big and small and to appreciate who we are and create a home where we can relax and be inspired.
And who am I to argue?
So I thought it might be fun to come up with four ways to treat myself this week that do not involve chocolate brownies.
1. Put on a song and sing out loud
A song can fill up a heart like nothing else. But to get the full effect of a song, you have to sing it. OUT LOUD. If you don’t know the lyrics, just hum along until you get to the part you know. The key to success is to sing like no one is listening.
For me that’s a good thing.
We aren’t an innkeeper’s wife any more.
2. Pick fresh flowers from your yard
If you don’t have flowers, pick up twigs and add them to a bouquet of flowers from the grocery store.
Then take a deep whiff.
And another.
Until your nose smells like summer.
3. Draw a quote on a chalkboard
Think of the most inspirational thing you can think of and draw it on a chalkboard.
If you don’t have a chalkboard, draw it on a piece of paper and color it in.
Add flowers and hearts and squiggles and doodles and then put it somewhere to inspire you.
4. Finish a project
Most of us have dozens of unfinished projects that seemed like really good ideas at the time, until we they are sitting in our upstairs closet gathering dust (self I’m talking to you).
Pick one.
Preferably the one that’s the farthest along and finish it.
And then be sure and tell your three closest friends what you did and how you made it and treated yourself and did something just for you appreciated yourself.
You might take the opportunity to mention you’re a rock star.
Because we both know it’s true. 🙂
And now, because I’m spending the week treating myself, I want to treat you.
Simply enter below to win a the cutest set of Kathy Davis bedding (like the one I just added to our upstairs bedroom).
KATHY DAVIS™ & Thistlewood Farms Bedding Giveaway
This post is sponsored by Kathy Davis. All opinions are completely my own.
Please see my disclosure page for more information.
How fun is this appreciate yourself day and a giveaway! Thank you and Happy 4th of July too! Jemma
Good morning KariAnne, What a pretty post this is. I'm in the middle of changing up my bedroom and so these bedroom shots make me more excited than ever. Kathy Davis sure has designed some beautiful things! (You should take the hint...I'm sure it's probably already in the works...?) KariAnne's Farmhouse Favorites! WE all love your things, make them in YOUR name! I can see bedspreads, curtains, table cloths, napkins, etc. Anyway, I already do sing to music all day long... I have flowers surrounding my house, but I don't pick them very often... guess I should... My daughter just bought a chalkboard to use with her jewelry displays... I'll have to borrow it... and let's see... finish a project... I have SO many to pick from...what shall I start with? You've given me lots of assignments for the day! Guess I better get busy! Have a wonderfully, slightly cooler, day today! Blessings, Jeanne
Thank you for the giveaway! I'm spending the weekend to appreciate myself! Thanks for the reminder!
I have a hard time liking much bedding, but white, however....I love this! character without being too busy. love!
Don't need bedding so not entering to give someone else a chance to win!! : )
I promise to complete all my assignments ! The bedding is drop dead gorgeous!
Good morning, KariAnne! I guess I take time for myself...I've done 1-3 already but #4...yeah, I need to get on that. Although now that my art room is clean, I find actually find the projects. Lol. Love that bedding - it's so pretty! Thank you for the chance to win. Hope you are having a good week! Hugs, Cecilia
I like it. The flowers are covered. I just have to sing, write, and finish something today.
Great post and lovely pictures!
Oh, thank you for the reminder to give to ourselves! We spend so much time giving to our husbands, children, neighbors, and friends, but we neglect ourselves or feel guilty when we do give make time for us. Love this bedding and it would go PERFECTLY in our newly decorated gray bedroom!
Karianne, I love you, your posts and pics, and the writing you do.....but......I cannot in enter your giveaway because they ask for too much info....like date of birth, etc. I know it can be accessed, but already dealing with identity theft I am ultra careful about the information I give out. And have found that most of the time we don't have to give it i.e. phone numbers, social security numbers, etc. Thanks so much for all you do. May be writing a post about identity theft would be helpful to your readers. I have done extensive research about this, talked at length to detectives who say this is the fastest growing crime and how easy and scary this is. When it happens you want to run for the hills.
I want to pet your dog. - just saying - Have a wonderful Independence Day, because everybody just calls it July 4th, but it's special.
Perfectly planned ways to add some fun to your life! I love the idea of finishing something…even just running all of the little errands that have been building up…like banking…I do online banking…so odd checks build up and I have to force myself into an actual branch!
Well to start off my appreciation day, I'll start with you. I appreciated seeing your insights in my mailbox and they make me smile and cry and times. They make me FEEL and that is so important. Today I'm going to drag out my sewing machine and do some mending :-( that's not my favorite but it has to be done. Later I will go out and smell the tomato plants -- they have to be dusted (no they aren't dirty, just buggy). And I wish my favorite rock star a very happy sunshine filled day!!
Ooooooooooooooooooooooo can I have your choooocccoooooolate brownies you don't want to get involved with...PLEASE oooooooooooo especially now that I have drooled. Bedding...I don't want.......BUT chooooooooooooooooooocooolate anything YYYEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! Jean McGee
....I wanna lay down on the rug with that adorable dog and pet him to sleep (and take a nap with him, too)
Dear Karianne, I love you. I know I have said it before, but, oh you are so awesome! At first, I thought I won't be able to afford it. When am I going to have complete faith in you???? Sigh. All are things anyone can do. You are my hero. Really. Thank you friend for starting my crappy day off with a smile and turning my day around. Love, Linda
Love the room makeover with the new bedding! I've been looking for a good source for bedding and it looks like I have an awesome source to select from on Kathy Davis' site. Thanks for the share and thanks too for the giveaway! Oh and, by the way, who is the newest family member? He looks like such a sweetheart -- reminds me of a dog we had named "Buster" -- also a sweetheart.
Karianne, What a beautiful post. You are a very gifted person. I am so happy I found your blog. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity. One can never have enough beautiful bedding!! Patricia (NC Coast)
I just had a similar conversation with a girlfriend about little things we can do to treat ourselves so this is perfect timing. I don't have anything blooming right now but did buy two bouquets at the grocery store the other day. Finished up a slipcover because I had people coming over and nothing is a better motivator than that lol! So now I'm going to go write something on the chalkboard and sing to my "Adele" Pandora station while I'm doing it!
What a fun giveaway! Now I am hungry for chicken with cilantro. :) Lisa
Cool! I love the bedding and who's room can't use a little fresh up! Chick Fil is a favorite but none are close to me! So it's a treat to go there. The ice cream seriously tastes like home made....
I hope you treat yourself. Have a wonderful weekend.
Happy summer to you. I am so hoping that one of your projects to finish will be your book. I love all your stories and wish i could read them over and over again. Your stories are full of happy smiles! Debbie
You are right, KariAnne...so often, we get so caught up in doing for others, we forget to do for ourselves, too. I'm bad for that, actually, so I really needed this reminder and I'm going to try to check off each of these suggestions this long weekend (it's Canada Day here tomorrow). I have plenty of hydrangeas just ready to be picked...and I LOVE to sing out loud..."Be My Baby" is my jam du jour! :) I just LOVE that photo of Buddy...what a sweetheart he is! Please give him and Bonzai big hugs for me, k? Thank you!
Thank you for the reminder to appreciate myself! And the giveaway... thank you!! Wish I had known about this site before I made my duvet purchase! I checked it briefly and I liked what I saw!! As for taking time for myself...I have to unpack a gazillion boxes from a three bedroom, two story house with 2car garage cabinet storage and decide what to keep, what to sell, what to give away and what to donate. The movers arrived Monday and we've been unpacking every day since. Apparently my husband was instructed by our children not to give away or sell Mother's" stuff"!!!!!!!! Have a happy 4th of July weekend Karianne. Have fun with your family!!!
Thank you for the reminder and inspiration. Enjoy your day!
Hello there! What a great giveaway....I do need bedding! Due to the fact that I have had that stack of fabric just sitting and waiting in totes to use to make a comforter....and for some reason just never get around to doing it..This would certainly resolve that problem. LOL By the way, I love the photo of the bed and that sweet doggie...would love to give him/her a big hug. If you have time, would you share the color of the paint on the bed? Really love that color! Thanks for another wonderful post!!
Beautiful!
Good post and so true.
Thank you for reminding us to be kind to ourselves. The bedding is beautiful !
You've done it again, made me take a deep breath and let it out slowly and just rest and relax and smile as I read your sweet post (The Innkeeper's Wife was icing on the cake!). As Betty Davis said in the wonderful old black and white movie, Now Voyager, "I suspect you are a treasure!" Hugs and more hugs, terry PS That's the kind of writer I pray to be Karianne, one who b brings a bit of laughter, some comfort, and a whole bushel of encouragement to wobbling or just weary hearts, thank you for the inspiration, for being part of helping me find my calling.
Ooooh! That bedding looks soft, snuggly and serene! A great place to treat yourself by relaxing with a good book and a cup of tea. I'm spending the day treating myself by reading inspirational blogs like yours! You've inspired me to finish and photograph a project I've been meaning to get done for weeks- a collection of milk glass plates and compotes that need to be properly displayed and filled with loveliness!
I enjoy your blog...lovely photography, too! The 30th was my birthday, the first since my mom passed away...My husband is sweet and made a chicken & shrimp dinner on Thursday...we had a small store bought gluten free cake with lavender ice cream! My family enjoyed the evening...He made me gluten free pancakes this morning, top with fresh warmed cherries and whipped cream...Yum He is good to me...The bedding set you & Kathy Davis are offering is so serene...It would be great to great to win the bedding set and surprise my husband with an update to our bedroom, which has the same white walls as it did when we moved in 31 years ago. This would be an occasion to paint those Walls! I walk, sing, read, write and spend time in the garden for self care. Kindly, Chris Ann
Lovely reminder. Such small things, but worth the world when you really take the time ❤️
Cute, as always.