Random thoughts on the most beautiful Saturday morning with extra sunshine:

1. If you are reading this in the morning? Just know I’m out yard sailing with coffee, following every multi-yard sale sign I can find.

Wish me luck.

I’m on the hunt for vintage jewelry right now.

2. Our second “Thistle Of The Month” box goes out today. If you signed up last month, watch for an email. If you want to start with this month’s box?

You can see it here (and I posted pictures and more details at the end of this post).

3. Did I already tell you that I switched my part in my hair? My hairdresser told me it’s the best way to prevent your hair from breaking and thinning.

It made me nervous, but I tried it and I think I like it.

Welcome to 2025, KariAnne.

(edited to add: am I the only one who keeps typing 2025 when I mean to type 2026?) Sigh. Yesterday I wrote a check and had to turn the 5 into a 6 on the date.)

4. I have the cutest idea to decorate a dough bowl for spring. Line up a row of topiaries in burlap-covered pots.

5. It was an amazing week on the blog. We discussed:

• 25 ways to add time to the day
• this table DIY
• look what I found at the thrift store
• 11 easy spring decor ideas

6. I couldn’t believe the messages and emails I got about this toothpaste. I’ve been using it for over a year and it’s improved my teeth and my gums so much.

It was the top seller of January and you can see it here.

Amazing.

I’m just sayin’.

And now?

Here are my favorite finds from around the web.

Flower arrangements are one of the sweetest ways to treat yourself.

And these fun arrangements are made with Trader Joe’s flowers.

You can see the how-to here.

The prettiest spring table.

And wait until you see the topiary centerpiece.

You can see the entire table here.

This is the time of year we are all refreshing.

And I love a budget-friendly (or a no-budget) idea.

Here are ideas to refresh your home without spending a dime.

I love vintage silverware.

There are so many amazing projects you can make from it.

And here’s a great post on how to clean it.

 

And in random news

These brown butter chocolate chip cookies

The prettiest before and after

Cities that will pay you to move there

Have you ever heard of cozymaxing

This roasted tomato soup

How to age a planter with this faux finish technique

The sweetest Easter cupcakes (the grass—seriously)

These dollar store planter ideas

These bucket list destinations

Such a pretty house tour

What I’m using for weeds in the garden (without having to bend to pull them out)

10 of the best beach reads (in time for spring break)

How to monogram a handkerchief

And this

Do you think I should start collecting this?

And one more for the road

Want to make over a yard sale find?

Here’s how to distress wood in minutes.

We are SO EXCITED to announce February’s Thistle of the Month is the Thistlewood Village — a charming set of seven wooden village cutouts with dimensional molding, awnings, and tiny windows and doors.

No two villages are exactly alike, but each village comes with a school, a church, a barn, two storefronts, and two houses.

Each piece of the village measures approximately 5 1/2″ x 4″ x 1/4″.  This village is designed to mix, match, layer, and style in countless ways.

Create a tiny village across your mantel
String them vertically or horizontally to create a banner for a shelf or window
Tuck them into a wreath
Tie them onto vases
Add them to a centerpiece

Cluster all seven together for a cozy statement or scatter them throughout your home to add a little bit of handmade in unexpected places.

They’re simple. They’re versatile. They’re endlessly style-able.

You can see the set here.

Thistle of the Month is our curated home decor subscription box. Each month, we partner with a local artist or maker to create one-of-a-kind decor pieces for your home. Feel free to cancel at any time.

I still remember our first date.

I greeted him at the back door with red lipstick, an add-a-bead necklace, 4″ high bangs sprayed with Aqua Net hairspray, a prairie skirt, and a sweater vest covered in bows.

I think I might have even had on high-heeled shoes and socks with my name written on them with dotted letters scribed with a paint pen.
At the risk of stating the obvious……

…I looked amazing.

He wasn’t a big talker. A man of very few words. Maybe he was shy. Maybe he was nervous.

Maybe he was intimidated by the socks.

I didn’t care.

He was cute with dimples and brown wavy hair and big brown eyes that kind of looked like Johnny Depp and he had his own car. You know. All the really important things in life. And besides, I thought, I’m a talker. I could talk enough for both of us.

And even now, after all these years, he can smile to me across the room with those twinkling eyes and smiling dimples—and that look that is just for me.

I still get goosebumps.

And every day I count my blessings that this sweet, wonderful, incredible, brown-eyed man is still my Valentine.

I love you, cutie.

And I always will.

happy Valentine’s Day to you

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post

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