The only thing that gets me more excited than a trip to the thrift store? A nice Saturday morning yard sale! The deals that I get at yard sales are usually much better than my thrift store deals — which is saying a lot. I’ve gotten a tall faux plant for $5, multiple free chairs, and a hand painted floral tray for $15.

Garden Tour 2018 was one of the highlights of Spring for me. This tour, hosted by the Porch Club of Riverton, was a gorgeous tour of nine different gardens in Riverton, NJ.

I took hundreds of pictures, and editing down my selection was a challenge. The first stop on the tour, which I’m sharing here, was easily my favorite.

I still remember the first time I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art with my friend from college — his name was George. At first, George and I were chatting with each other, sharing our thoughts on each exhibit. But the deeper we got into the museum, the more quiet we became. The art we encountered entranced us, pulling us deeper into our thoughts. We would silently circle through each exhibit, taking it in deeply and then without any words, we would find each other before moving on to the next room.

A lot of people are taken with the idea of minimalism. Our society is one that over-consumes, so it’s natural to respond to this imbalance by cutting things out of our lives.

There’s something special about a room full of canopies and drapery. Clean lines and solid colors are straightforward, but soft lines, interesting textures, and multiple colors and patterns are alluring and mysterious. To me, this is the epitome of femininity. Rather than being simple and easy to take in, the complexity and beauty of it creates a sense of wonder and invites one to explore.

We all have that friend who seems to have an eye for decorating. It’s not just that her decor is pretty – there’s a certain je ne sais quoi to the way her home is arranged. You find yourself drawn in to the story of her life, entranced by the assortment of mementos, found items, and unique pieces.