A Little Motivation for My Monday...and hopefully yours, too!

I am a thief...yep, fully admitting to stealing this beautiful quote from a friend today. Funny story...this friend, Joanne Rider and I grew up as neighbors...TWICE in our life. We first lived right next door to each other as little girls. Her family moved...and then years later my family moved. We moved right across the street from the Levy family (Joanne's maiden name.) Joanne and her siblings lost not one, but both of their parents within months of eachother last year. Through everything she and her family have gone through...they are all still givers, doers and continue to see the best in people and have NEVER lost faith in God.

This struck me today...truly, stopped me and made me think. Am I really doing all these things? Am I showing my two girls how to really be a genuine person and a friend to others. Am I loving my husband and family...unconditionally? Hmmm...I have some work to do! "Always pray to have eyes that see the BEST in people, A heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad and a soul that NEVER loses Faith in God!" Thanks Joanne...thank you for the beautiful reminder!!! Love & Junk ~ Julie

Valentine Pillow GIVEAWAY Winner!!!

The winner for the latest GIVEAWAY is "Lindbergs!" Please email me your shipping info and I will get you your LOVE pillow...in time for Valentine's Day!! Thank you to all of you who followed my blog...new and old followers!!! Stay tuned for more GIVEAWAYS!!!

ALso this Friday...check out www.missmustardseed.com,for her fabulous collection of furniture...done all by her readers. Look for me, #'s 105-110! http://missmustardseed.com/2013/01/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-a-link-party-15/ Have a FABULOUS Friday!! Woohoo!! Love & Junk~ Julie

I Missed My Baby Shower!

You hear it over and over again...."Time goes so fast." It does. Our oldest is 4 today! It seems like we just brought her home from the hospital?!?! Funny Story. I went into labor on the morning of my baby shower. Yep. Missed the party completely! Back pain to me had always meant I slept funny, or worked out extra hard and was sore. Nothing crossed my mind. Then...my water broke but nothing else happened. Hmph.... I took my time that morning getting ready, because I was SURE they would check me and let me go to the shower and come back to the hospital. Did I mention she is our oldest? My first baby, first labor....I didn't have a clue! Long story short...the hospital admitted me and the party went on without me. My mom and sister really had to have the party...guests were coming! Well, Natalie arrived...4 weeks early and PERFECTLY healthy and beautiful! The first thing I ate after delivering her was a chocolate pudding with crushed oreos (the only thing my husband could find that late and Natalie to this day eats chocolate pudding like it is going out of style!) and I also ate the BIGGEST piece of my baby shower cake. I think that has to be the BEST meal I have ever had! Speaking of cake...I am taking cupcakes to Natalie's preschool class this morning. We are stepping it up a notch (HONESTLY, these are EASY!) with these Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes. You may have seen these or even made them...but, if not...I am here to tell you they are easy! Yes. I used a boxed cake mix...for many reaasons. They are moist, delicious and a time saver! Line up your ice cream cones on a flat surface. Make sure they are flat on the bottom (scratch off that little bump on the bottom center of cone if you have to.) They will stay even when filled...I promise! Mix the cake batter as directed...and fill to the inside mark of the cone (about 3/4 of the way up.) Let the cupcakes cool...and frost however you like. I filled a pastry bag and piped the frosting on there to look like an ice cream cone. Natalie frosted some of her own...and put pink and purple (of course!) sprinkles on them. Our preschool friends are in for a treat this morning!! Love & Junk~ Julie

Farmhouse Fabulous!

If you love farmhouse style...you will LOVE this piece. I buy and sell furniture all the time. Some things I fall more in love with than others. This was one of them. I REALLY tried to convince my husband we had room for this in our house. Nope. No room. I spent my time with this one. Taking my time...and debating on color...I went with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White. LOVE the fresh, vintage farmhouse feel. Someday, I may have more room for ALL the things I fall in love with. My friend Erin is enjoying this in her home now...and that makes me happy, too!! Share my blog with your friends...and check in Friday, January 18th for the winner of the LOVE pillow giveaway!! Love & Junk~ Julie

Monday...FUNday!!!

Well...not really (laundry, cleaning, bills...) but we can still have fun here at The Vintage Barn!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!! That's right...I am giving away the cute little "LOVE" pillow you see front and center of this shot from my Valentine Collection of pillows you can find in my Etsy shop! All you have to do is follow my blog,and leave a comment and you are entered to win. It is that easy! If you are already followng my blog...you are AUTOMATICALLY entered! (You have until Thursday, January 17th at 8:00pm PST to be entered!)

Front with canvas and "LOVE" stenciled in red.

Here is the back...red and white canopy stripe fabric..classic!

Here is the "LOVE" pillow with an accent toss pillow cover in red and white polka dots...also available in my Etsy shop... www.thevintagebarn.etsy.com

The stripes on the back of the giveaway pillow go so well with the dots!

Stormy Spring Pillow Covers

Working away on my girls' naptime...gray and yellow pillow covers...

The Stormy Spring Collection...

Gray Polka Dot...

Gray stripe with yellow dots...

Gray chevron...

Yellow chevron...and this picture shows the envelope enclosure. I am doing envelope enclosure pillows now...less storage of pillow forms for me here in my studio...and less expensive for you! Change the look of your room more often and for less money!!! Hae a fabulous weekend...my girls are waking up...work time is over! Love & Junk~ Julie

National Milk Day...Drink Up!!!

It is National Milk Day...which, I think, is everyday in this house. We (by "we" I mean my husband, our almost 4 year old and 1 year old) can go through 4 gallons in a week an a half...easy!

I am not a HUGE milk drinker...gasp! Before you even have a second to wonder why...let me assure you I MORE than make up for it in my half and half consumption in my coffee...and CHEESE! I could (and do) make a meal off of cheese and crackers with wine,, lots of Friday nights. (Hmmm...dinner for the Mr. and I is done!)

But, it's Friday...and NOTHING goes better with an ice, cold glass of REAL CA milk than cookies. These are THE BEST Oatmeal Cookies you will ever have. They are my "claim to fame" if you will. Well, they are my mom's claim to fame...and this is her recipe and it never fails!!! These are always a hit. I think it is the sea salt... Momma's Oatmeal Cookies...

3/4 of a cup of butter...REAL butter

1 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup of granulatd sugar

1 egg...one lonely little egg

1 tsp of GOOD vanilla

Cream butter, brown sugar, sugar, egg and vanilla...

Add 3 cups of oatmeal...slowly...mix...but don't overdo it

1 cup of flour

1 tsp of sea salt

1/2 tsp of baking soda

We added raisins today...about 2 cups. Chocolate chips are our next fave!

Scoop into dough balls on a parchment lined cookie sheet... bake at 350 degrees for 10 12 minutes.

The house smells SO GOOD!!!!!

Happy National Milk Day! Love & Junk~ Julie 3/4 cup REAL Butter...there are NO substitutes...NONE 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup flour 1 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 3 cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal Bake: 350 for 10-12 minutes