It's spring...at least in the South: we've sprung forward an hour, we've celebrated the vernal equinox, and most of the flowering bushes and trees are bursting forth. And of course, Easter is on its way.

​We love this holiday for many reasons, not the least of which is the tradition of filling baskets with goodies, whether for our children, grand-babies, or even our fur-babies.

But where did this tradition come from? And what's in YOUR Easter basket this year?

On March 17, 2017, we officially opened our doors for business and held our grand opening weekend, welcoming old and new friends and customers. Less than a year later, we expanded into the rest of the little log cabin. Fast-forward to last March, and we found ourselves moving into a larger space just a mile down the road.

​But before we plunge into our fifth year, we compiled a little retrospective on where we started and how far we've come. 

If you've seen American Pickers, you know how Mike and Frank scour the countryside for vintage and antique finds. Their travels have taken them to far-flung places across many  states.

​In case you didn't know, Mike has become a bona fide Tennessean, with a residence in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee and he's often spotted hanging out with our friends at Blue 32 in Columbia.

So how did Sherri and I get started picking? And do we pick like the American Pickers? And where can YOU find great picking spots?  

The obvious answer: you haul it home, of course.

If you know me, you know I have a thing for anything with drawers and cubbies - the more, the better. (And a rather serious vintage mixing bowl fetish....but that's another story.) I've traveled hither and yon across the mid-state for card catalogs, usually just the 18-drawer stacking cabinets. hefty, but manageable, especially if you remove the drawers.

​Last week, a grand-daddy of a cabinet came my way, and to be honest, I'm still not sure how two of us actually loaded it in my Armada.

Adrenaline, baby. Now the question is, what to do with this 400-pound beast?

When we moved our shop to a new location (in the middle of a pandemic!!!) we found ourselves faced with dozens of decisions. One seemingly minor (but also major) decision was how to decorate the three entrances across the front of our building.

Those entrances offer passersby a glimpse into our interior space, so we wanted to make sure they are always attractive and special, and they give you a hint as to what fun finds are within our doors. With a plethora of faux flowers and foliage to choose from, somehow the olive leaves and branches felt "right." 

We know there's still a week until we raise a toast to usher in the new year, but there's no time like the present to consider your goals, intentions and resolutions for 2020.  And we'd love to hear them!

We searched high and low, and we've rounded up a dozen of our favorite resolutions for homebodies. Several of these are on our list...are any on your list?  (Do you make a list?) ​

They say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans." Well, in Aruba, it seems that chippy, antiquated, timeworn patina is a way of life....so much so that antique stores are pretty scarce.

But we found one, and it was worth the hunt. Follow along and we'll take you on a virtual tour.

What is on top of your dresser? Tell the truth: we've all piled random "stuff" on our dressers from time to time. Maybe yours is piled high right now.

​But as a functional piece of furniture, dressers serve a dual purpose: they provide storage (preferably IN the drawers, and not ON the dresser), and they help communicate your personal style via the items you choose to place on top, as much as the style of the piece itself.

That's a tall order to fill for one piece of furniture, so let's take a little of the pressure off, and walk through some ideas for how to style your dresser's top to reflect you.

We love pillows. Do you? They add a personal touch to our beds, and give us plenty of cushion if we're sitting up in bed reading or watching television.

But where do they go while you're sleeping? Inquiring minds want to know!

In our bedrooms, our beds are typically the focal point of the room. And the wall behind our beds? It is one of the hardest walls to decorate. Can we get an Amen?

​ In this second installment of our mini-series on our own bedroom transformations, we'll explore some ideas for how to decorate this wall to reflect your taste, style and personality. After all, it is YOUR bedroom...