This may be a contributed post but all of the thoughts I agree with and match the tone of my blog .
Happy Saturday friends! Today I am so excited to share with you a fun and cute addition to the shop! This adorable altered Wuthering Heights book is now available for purchase! (You can find it HERE!)
I have always had an obsession with books and reading since I was a young girl. One of my dreams is to have a library filled with books from all over the world, where people could cozily slip into comfortable chairs and read stories that touch the heart and mind.
Some books just hit us in deep ways don't they? In this case these books deserve to be highlighted in special ways and that is what these altered books in the shop do.
As I shared back in April a bit about the background of December Caravan and where it is heading, (you can read about it HERE if you are interested), I knew that one of the things I wanted to include in the expansion of the shop were altered books.
This altered Wuthering Heights book has been lovingly altered with lots of beautiful modern and vintage ribbon and washi tape. This is a lovely gift and keepsake or a perfect addition to your library!
If you are interested in this altered Wuthering Heights book can find it HERE. Or if you are interested in looking at other altered books that are available in the shop you can find them in the altered books section by clicking HERE.
Happy Saturday friends! It is supposed to be some record high temperatures in our area so we are planning to spend the day by the lake! I hope that you have a wonderful day with friends and family!
As that first year with Courtney came and went and I celebrated her "first birthday", I was so incredibly grateful by all of the progress that I made, and this year I am simply amazed at the difference this year alone has brought! I well up with tears of humble gratitude.
I have said this often here on the blog... each person in a fight for their health must choose the best treatment plan for them, but I remain eternally humbled and grateful for my amazing medical team, this decision to move forward with a Port, and the care and love of so many. (If you want to read more about my healing journey you can do so HERE)
It truly takes a village and I am so incredibly grateful for my medical team and everyone who has compassionately and kindly cared for "Courtney". Thank you for all of your prayers, your love, and your encouragement during these past two years! I can't wait to see ALL of the healing that this next year of "Courtney's port life" will bring!
"But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever."
One thing that can be tough when you are walking your singleness journey is moving houses. After all, it's you alone that has to organize everything, do all the packing and the hard work. Luckily, there is a way to make it less of a difficult task, something you can read more about in the timeline below.
Three months.
When you are single and moving home, it is important to remember that thing may take you a little longer to complete on your own. Therefore it is a good idea to start as early as possible, and with that in mind start to declutter your home three months before the move.
Decluttering is a vital stage because it ensures that you only have to pack and transport the thing that you genuinely want to take with you. Something that can save you both money and effort when moving day rolls around. Two months before the move is time to start getting things put in place. In particular its an excellent point to book off any time you need to from work, and the more notice they will have for this the better.
Two months.
Two months before the move is time to start getting things put in place. In particular its an excellent point to book off any time you need to from work, and the more notice they will have for this the better.
Two months before the move is time to start getting things put in place. In particular its an excellent point to book off any time you need to from work, and the more notice they will have for this the better.
Also, it is the perfect time to do some research on local movers that can help you with your relocation. After all, they are insured for
any damage that occurs by accident, and they can take care of the heavy lifting of large furniture pieces and boxes, so you don't
have to struggle on your own.
any damage that occurs by accident, and they can take care of the heavy lifting of large furniture pieces and boxes, so you don't
have to struggle on your own.
One month.
When there is only one month left before you move it's the perfect time to start packing. In fact, because you have previously
de-cluttered your home, this task should already be a little easier.
de-cluttered your home, this task should already be a little easier.
Just remember to pack your boxes properly with some heavy items at the bottom for stability, then fill the rest of the box up with lighter pieces. Otherwise, you may struggle to lift them without help, something that can be a real pain if you want to start moving them around in preparation for the big day and there is no one about to assist you.
One week.
One week before your moving date is the best time to deal with any administration issues. These usually include getting your mail redirected to your new address, as well as letting your utility provider know your moving out date.
Don't forget to make some time to say a proper goodbye to friends and neighbors in the areas as well, and give then you change of address details so you can stay in touch.
One day.
Lastly, just before moving day, you will want to ensure that you have a box of essentials packed for the day itself. Usually, enough tea and coffee as well as some snacks area good idea for you, the removal men, and any friends and family you have roped into helping.
Don't forget to use this time to look over you moving plan and decide which room you would like packed onto the truck first, and finish off any finial jobs such as defrosting the freezer. You may even wean to treat yourself to a last take-out meal in your old home before you new adventure begins!
While I was there I was introduced to several things that I have continued to incorporate to this day, one of them being Cod Liver Oil. When the doctor first mentioned taking it each day I looked at her with skepticism as I thought she must not have tried the "wonderful" taste of it. At the time she laughed and admitted that this was something that she had been recommending her patients do for years, but had only started taking herself recently. I was skeptical until she started sharing all of the health benefits from adding this quick and simple habit into my life.
I will warn you that the Cod Liver Oil truly does not taste good. There are some brands that offer "taste enhancers" but in my opinion nothing truly masks the taste of Cod Liver Oil! I have found that having a small glass of cranberry juice to sip on immediately after is the only thing that truly kills the taste. (The kind that I have found to be the best is the Carlson's brand (you can find it on Amazon by clicking HERE!)
As a bit of background, Cod Liver Oil has been used for over a hundred years. There are recorded notes of Cod Liver Oil being given as early as the 1890s to malnourished children and adults with arthritis! Here are just 13 amazing benefits of Cod Liver Oil:
1. The anti-inflammatory properties of Cod Liver Oil can help reduce some of the swelling that is known to cause arthritis pain.
7. Along the same lines as number 6, Dr. Patrick Quillin who holds a PhD, an RD, and a CNS degree and who wrote the book "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" said: "Fish oil is therapeutic and can slow cancer."
9. Cod Liver Oil contains excellent amounts of EPA and DHA which are important omega-3 fatty acids.
10. Cod Liver Oil contains high levels of Vitamin A.
11. Cod Liver Oil may improve seasonal allergies.
12. Cod Liver Oil helps support healthy eyes.
13. Cod Liver Oil may help depression.
With all of those benefits one small swallow and a little bad taste don't seem that important! Do y'all take Cod Liver Oil?
With all of those benefits one small swallow and a little bad taste don't seem that important! Do y'all take Cod Liver Oil?
Head on over to the December Caravan instagram community for a special Wednesday Sale! You can connect with the December Caravan community by clicking HERE!
Interested in just checking out the shop? Lots of new goodies have been added in the last few weeks with lots more to come! You can go directly to the shop by clicking HERE!
See you on over at the IG page!
New York might be the biggest, the most populous, and the most famous city of the US. But it’s also a place where people from all around the world have historically come to find their fortune and to be part of the American Dream. As a result, it’s not just a US-city, it’s a city of the whole world. Here, we’re going to look at how one bite of the Big Apple can give you a taste of places much farther flung.
Celebrate in China
Manhattan’s Chinatown is easily one of the most colorful and invigorating parts of the whole city. If you enjoy food, culture, and entertainment, you are certain to find it here. But the time of the year that is undeniably better than any other, when it comes to arranging your visit, is during the Chinese New Year. It can feel like you have stepped directly into another world. Huge floats, colorful dancing dragons, and vendors come out in full force. It’s not just a show, but an important event for families to honor their ancestors and come together. If you only have a short time to enjoy the sights, then you absolutely must stick around for the traditional lion dancing.
Eat in Italy
Of course, if you want to talk about cuisine in New York, then you can’t go very far without talking about the Italian flavor in particular. Tastes from around the world have found their home in New York, but perhaps none has become so firmly rooted and closely associated with the city than the tastes of Italy. There is many a pizzeria and no shortage of places to enjoy a good pasta dish. If there’s one that’s a must-visit, however, it must be Eataly. The hallmark location of a franchise that now reaches across the world, it’s a mix of restaurant, food store, café, and much more that makes for a day out just as much as a place to stop and enjoy a bite.
Adventure in Paris
The theatre is deeply nested within the cultural heart and the history of the city. If you visit without seeing the lights of Broadway or even catching a show just outside it, you are missing out. Not only is it an institution, but it’s a great way to catch shows not only from across the world but also depicting adventures across it. For example, seeing Anastasia at the Broadhurst Theatre can have you living a musical adventure in Paris fraught with peril, intrigue, and a little magic. The theatre has a lot more to offer than Paris alone, so see what shows are coming up and choose the right time to see your favorites.
Inspiration from Europe
If your tastes a little more sedate and you want to be inspired by artists all around the world, then the many galleries and art museums of the city are a must-see. The Met Museum is particularly impressive for the sheer amount of different locales and periods it showcases in its exhibitions. However, if you’re a lover of the European masters, The Frick Collection might be a little more up your street. There are pieces from Goya, Rembrandt, Renoir, Titian and more. One moment you can be swept up in the vistas of a romantic Spanish scene and the next you can be admiring the golden age of Dutch baroque. All of it contained in a gorgeous old school museum complete with a working water fountain.
The heart of the US
Whilst you might be enjoying your international adventures in the Big Apple, it’s worth taking a look at the shore that drew all those people from around the world in the first place. From Coney Island to the Statue of Liberty, cruising the ports of New York City is not something to be missed. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful skylines in the country and never fails to elicit an emotional, awestruck reaction. Take a tour on the water up and down the coast, which can help you hit all the highlights of the city itself or even go further out into the county to show that there’s still much more to explore.
If you want to experience cultures, tastes, and sights from around the world, you don’t necessarily have to travel it. Of course, everything gets a New York-spin that makes it distinctly part of the city and part of the American way of life, but still, a trip to the Big Apple can truly broaden your horizons.
This may be a contributed post but all of the thoughts I agree with and match the tone of my blog .
Pulling together outfits for special occasions can be a lot of fun. No matter what the occasion or the budget you have, you’re always going to want to play around with your fashion choices here. Because that’s what dressing up is all about. When it comes to occasions, you can often go all out. You can make sure that you’re picking out fun pieces that make you feel your best.
But the key question often is, what should you wear? While party dresses are often a great place to start, it’s important to know that they aren’t always the answer. So if you feel like you need a great look to work with, then you might want to mix things up a little. Let’s get into it. Here are some key contenders to consider for special occasion styling.
Cocktail Dress
First of all, we have the classic cocktail dress. If you love to wear mini length, figure-fitting dresses, then this is going to be your style of choice. For really formal events and evening ‘dos, this is going to be your best bet. The cocktail dress is timeless. No matter what your budget, you will be able to find a great fitting dress that you can wear again and again.
Mini Dress
From here, you’ve then got a mini dress. While you may not be wanting to wear something too skimpy to the works do, or to a wedding, a mini dress can be great for any evening parties that you have coming up. Whether it's your birthday, a date night, or just an occasion that you’re attending, if you love to get your legs out, a mini dress is always a killer choice.
A Suit
Now that we’ve covered off two styles of dresses, we’re going to throw in the wild card. Because sometimes you just want to wear something different. And what could be more different, interesting, and powerful than a good suit? Just take a look at these women in suits to get some killer outfit inspiration. And here, we’re not talking stuffy. We’re talking sexy. So think about wearing a tuxedo with a bra and heels. No need for the shirt, because the jacket will be enough to look wow-factor and still cover your modesty.
Maxi Dress
Going back to a dress, the next suggestion is going to be a maxi dress. For this, we’re thinking a cross with a cocktail dress for something incredibly formal, but when we’re talking about weddings and daytime affairs, maxi dresses can often look incredible.
A Co-Ord
Finally, we’ve also got to talk about matching sets. Yes, we could have finished off with a jumpsuit here, but that would be a little obvious. So instead, why not look for something a little bit special instead? When you can get a matching skirt and top combo, or top and trousers, your look can have a huge impact. Maybe you even want to go with a matching skirt and jacket, or dress and jacket so that it’s really quite special for your occasion.
This may be a contributed post but all of the thoughts I agree with and match the tone of my blog .
This may be a contributed post but all of the thoughts I agree with and match the tone of my blog .
Happy Saturday friends! Today I am so excited to share with you a fun and cute addition to the shop! This adorable Donald Duck in Disneyland Junk Journal is now available for purchase! (You can find it HERE!)
If y'all have been around this blog for a bit of time you know how much I love creating different and unique journals and altered books. I started creating what is now commonly referred to as "junk journals" years ago, but have never added them to the shop until now. These beautiful and unique journals are the perfect way to grab onto ordinary moments or days and remember special times in life.
I found this rare vintage (1955) Donald Duck in Disneyland Golden Book in an antique book store back in the early winter and was so excited to use it to create a special Junk Journal. I fell in love with the precious pictures, the detailed illustrations, and the vibrant colors.
As I shared on the blog back in April a bit about the background of December Caravan and where it is heading, (you can read about it HERE if you are interested), I knew that one of the things I wanted to include in the expansion of the shop were tag and junk journals. Tag and Junk journals are perfect for celebrating the special and the ordinary days in your life or to give as a gift to someone.
This Vintage Donald Duck in Disneyland Junk Journal contains approximately 75 pages that includes gorgeous original book pages, washi tape, and quality coordinating scrapbook paper. You can easily add in pictures, your own ephemera (or choose the option for me to add in some before you receive your junk journal), and quick notes so that you can remember the special days forever.
If you are interested in this Vintage Donald Duck in Disneyland Junk Journal can find it HERE (UPDATED: PLEASE SEE NOTE BELOW). Or if you are interested in looking at other tag and junk journals that are available in the shop you can find them in the tag and junk journal section HERE.
UPDATED: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ITEM SOLD IMMEDIATELY. YOU CAN REQUEST A CUSTOM ORDER JUNK JOURNAL BY CLICKING HERE! MORE JUNK JOURNALS WILL BE ADDED TO THE SHOP SOON!
Happy Saturday friends! I hope that you have a wonderful day with friends and family!!
Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that your week has started off well! Back in April I shared that on our 5th day of our Rhine River cruise we had the amazing opportunity to spend the morning cruising the Middle Rhine River. (You can read about the first part of our scenic cruising HERE and the second part HERE!)
The 5th day of our cruise turned out to be one of my favorites. The morning cruising the Rhine was a beautiful experience and definitely one of our favorite parts of the trip (even if we did freeze! hahaha!) and then the afternoon and early evening were spent exploring the beautiful city of Cologne, Germany.
After a yummy lunch we headed into our afternoon tours that strolled through Old town Cologne before we went and spent time at the Kolner Dom, Germany's largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I will be dedicating an entire post to the Cathedral (it was simply amazing!) but today I wanted to share pictures from our walk through historic Cologne.
Cologne (or Koln in German), which is located northwest of Bonn, is the largest city in the German federal state of the North Rhine-Westphalia. It is one of Europe's most major metropolitan areas and most cultural cities (with over 30 museums!) and is the fourth most populated city (following Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich).
Side note- aren't these colorful houses absolutely adorable? I took so many pictures of them because I just loved the color against the church!
Founded in the 1st century AD, Cologne functioned as the capital of the Roman province and was the headquarters of the Roman military until 462. Cologne thrived during the Middle Ages as one of the most critical and important trade routes- serving as a conduit between the east and west in Europe.
Although the city had gone through several different occupations by the French and the British in the decades prior to World War II, the city gained unfortunate notoriety in World War II as one of the most heavily bombed cities during the war.
During World War II the Royal Air Force dropped more than 34,711 tons of bombs on Cologne alone. This number is absolutely staggering if you consider the amount that this is and the fact that it was all leveled in this one area.
This intense bombing reduced the Cologne population by nearly 95% during World War II... mainly due to the evacuation as it destroyed the entire city. To give a glimpse of what things looked like I have included a few pictures below that I found while researching about Cologne:
These pictures above are not my property- they were found on the internet.
Due to the severity of the destruction there is a unique landscape that has emerged in Cologne. The intention during the rebuilding phase was to save and restore as many historic buildings as possible and in doing so there is an eclectic mix of the days gone by amidst the new.
The rich history of Cologne added to the depth of what we were seeing.
In many ways, this time through Historic Cologne reminded me of our time in Colmar, France.
There is a beauty that can only come from having endured so much destruction and living to tell the story. I was quieted by this and the way that so much history had survived despite the harsh encounters and decimation.
There is a beauty that comes from everything when you face difficulties and still manage to persevere. Perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons that I took away from our entire trip.
I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of a walk through Historic Cologne! In my next post I can't wait to share more about the Cologne Cathedral and its unique survival during the bombing of World War II. The Cathedral was absolutely magnificent! If you are interested in reading more about our Basel to Amsterdam cruise on Viking, you can click on the links below:
// Viking River Cruises: Answers to Your Most FAQ's //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) //
// A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) //
// A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
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