I really must catch up on laundry.

October is already here and evidently it's already the 12th!  This year is slipping by quickly.  Life has been so crazy this past year with the move to Lakeshore and with a 4 kids and a husband who travels that is no easy feat let me tell you.  Blogging is so fun and I just love visiting many, many blogs daily but the truth is I have gotten behind on laundry...and well, a 100 other things.  I am a dreamer by heart and so blogging has been a way for me to complete a lot of projects (so that I could have something to post lol)...and get really great feedback on some projects as well.  It's just too bad that the laundry doesn't do itself, nor does the shopping for groceries and it is really too bad that my fingers moving most of the day on the keyboard doesn't make my butt shrink.  I tell myself at the end of each day..."Kristine, if you would workout each day the hours that you spend blogging you would be the most fit woman in town!" and yet, the very next day, the same thing happens...

So, I am going to put blogging aside for a while and work on decreasing my pant size, spending more time with my precious little girl who is still not in school like the other 3 and get ready for the holidays. Did you know I am directing the Children's Christmas Program at church? 

I may even spend a little more time on my new tree bench swing.

I won't be gone too long...I'll try to be back before the Christmas holiday season so that I can see all of your decorations and show you mine...and I will most certainly try to be 10 pounds lighter when I do come back!

I feel good about this.

My challenge for you before I leave is this:

Walk 1 mile each day before you sit down to your computer. 

Just 1 mile.

It's not that far...and hoping that 1 mile leads to 2 and then to 3!

We women must stay healthy.  I'll miss you!

XO,

Kristine

THE WINNER OF THE RAMSIGN ENAMEL SIGN IS:

I used Random Generator and the WINNER IS:

Entry Number 23, JANN!!!

You can visit her blog, A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson and tell her

Congratulations!

Thank you to all of you who entered the Giveaway.

and Jann, I will be in touch to let you know what you need to do to claim your prize!

Have a great day,

Kristine

Decorated Kitchen

 The kitchen is the place that we spend most of our time and while I have kept most of the Fall decor in our home natural, my kids want the fun stuff.  They want the lights, the candy and all of the pumpkins we can fit into one space. 

I hope you enjoyed my kitchen tour and I would love to know what you think!
I'm linking up to these fun parties:

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Thank you for stopping by!

Kristine

My Living Room::Revisited

New pillows! From my last living room post you will remember that I was in need of some to freshen up the space.   I found these pillows and thought they would be great!  If you follow my blog, you know that I am trying to keep things less fussy and less formal at my house with 4 kids and these pillows seemed to be just the right fit for my plans.

I also added these little trunks and suitcase.  These  little trunks at the end of the couch are old doll trunks that my MIL had in her storage closet.  They stacked nicely for a little end table and they bring so much character to the living room don't you think?

A couple of weeks ago I did a living room Switcheroo and I changed it back to the original layout...I liked the way it opened things up more to the fireplace.  The previous arrangement seemed to block off the entrance to the room and didn't have a welcoming feel to it.

 There is a lot of light that pours into the room through our large windows which is really wonderful but not always the greatest for pictures....

 My collections...

 Here is a closer look at the doll chests.  I stacked them on this old suitcase...also found in my MIL's storage.  Shopping at her house is FUN! ;)

And that's it for now!  Hope you had a GREAT weekend!

Be sure to enter my GIVEAWAY for RAMSIGN.  Just 1 more day.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER.

I'm linking up to:

Kristine

Fall Mantel for the Family Room

A few weeks ago I updated my mantel in the family room and now I have again changed things around for Fall.  Some things were removed and some stayed the same.  There are so many beautiful mantels out there in blogland right now to gain inspiration from, don't you think?

The little arched window is new.  My Mother In Law had it stored away in her garage and was going to get rid of it yesterday!  My Father In Law told her that he watched Pickers on TV and just knew I would want it.  I rushed right over to their house when I heard and loaded it up along with many, many other things.  It is so fun to shop for FREE.  And it is special that it has meaning and some family history.  Evidently, the window came from a house that my MILlived in when she was little.  Just love the arched top.

It is already chippy and perfect and there is even a little latch still attached behind my dried arrangement...sorry it is hidden...you will have to just trust me on that one.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Don't forget to enter my First Giveaway:: RAMSIGN.

Click HERE to enter.

Would love to know what you think!

I'm linking up to Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special

and

Kristine



My First GIVEAWAY::RAMSIGN::This Giveaway HAS ENDED.

I was really excited when Tezz, the marketing assistant for RAMSIGN contacted me to see if I would be interested in doing a Giveaway here at Lakeshore and of course I said YES!  RAMSIGN is a small Danish company that specializes in manufacturing and selling classic enamel signs (house signs and house numbers) based upon original designs and techniques. Who doesn't love a RAMSIGN enamel sign???  They are SO charming.  I have tried several times to win one on blogs all over blogland with no success so it is kind of funny that I get to give one away now on my blog.  So enough of the chit chat...let's look at what they've got:

 I love this one on the fence!

The winner will receive one house number sign (not name signs or address plaques) in their choice of numbers from 1 digit and up to 5 digits, and in one of the five different styles. RAMSIGN ships worldwide so everyone can participate in the giveaway.   There is no charge to you for shipping...it ships FREE!

So what do you have to do to enter?

1.  Go over and visit RAMSIGN...click HERE and let me know in a comment which style house number you would choose if you won.

2.  Leave me a separate comment letting me know if you already are a Friend/Follower of Lakeshore Cottage or become a Friend/Follower.
 
3.  For an extra entry, blog about or put a link in your sidebar about the giveaway and let me know in another separate comment.

**Keep in mind this house number doesn't have to be used on a house, but you might like to put it inside somewhere...or on a large basket...on a metal locker or give it as a gift...Christmas is coming...just around the corner!

This giveaway will end Monday, October 10, 2011. Winner will be announced Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

 
That's it!  I hope you will enter!  If not, I may have to figure out how to enter myself...lol!
 

Thanks for stopping by Lakeshore Cottage,

 

Kristine