The Real Joy . . .

The 

real joy 

of my life is that I get to do what I love . . . every day.  

Not everyone can say that their work days are their "fun" days, or that they look forward to going to work.

I decided many years ago that I wanted to make a career out of the things I loved to do  . . . 

the things I would choose to do if I had a choice.

For me, owning a small business offers the challenges and fulfillment I desire.

I get to do the things that delight me.

I am stretched, tested and challenged in a way that confirms my abilities, builds my strength and makes me proud of my achievements.

Like an athlete who spends a lifetime disciplining the body, mind and spirit in order to compete effectively in competition,

there is a drive to excel for the sake of excellence in some area, in most of us.

That desire to experience, enjoy, master and share your love for your chosen interest will direct you to your
 real joy
 in life. 

Your passion may manifest itself in the love of pastry making or the joy of oil painting or the satisfaction of boat building

 - only you know where it lies -

but if you've got it - you've got it.

In our two South Denver antiques and home decor shops,
 we sell
"lifestyle"

creating a stylish and comfortable environment where customers connect emotionally with specially chosen pieces for their homes.

By combining a passion for history with a delight in hunting for the sort of pieces my customers long for - then connecting the two, the adventure, excitement, energy and rewards abound.

The magic is the satisfaction I derive from doing what I love.

I sell a cumulative package that is my accumulated knowledge, my practical experience, my wisdom, my intuition, my abilities, my gifts . . . . professional expertise.  

Identifying those elements of life that 

 (first), 

we're really good at 

and that

(second),   

we never tire of 

is 

the critical first step 

to

 finding your 

real joy 

in life.

In my next post we'll look at questions that will help you identify your passion and indicate whether you're cut out for being in business.

Follow Joy on Facebook
using the link above!

Cooking In A Snow Storm

In my previous blog post I told y'all that I am trying 

Door To Door Organics

a local company

 that delivers all organic products to my door.

(Hence that catchy name.)

I got home Wednesday and there were my two perfect boxes

all insulated with ice packs.

I found everything I'd ordered, clean, cold, wrapped meticulously and perfectly packed.  

Eight Meals

This afternoon I began by browning organic beef and putting it into my slow cooker

with carrots and potatoes to simmer into a hearty beef stew with organic beef broth.

It appears I will have enough for 8 servings, so I'll refrigerate several portions and freeze some in lunch/supper sizes.

I usually end up making vegetable soup with several of these by adding whatever fresh veggies I have on hand which stretches even further.

Two Meals

I preheated my oven, breaded my organic pork chops and washed my yams.

Into the oven it all went.

Eggs went into a pot to hard boil for some lunches.

Steamed some organic broccoli.

Washed and cored my apples and prepped them to go into the oven

 when the chops and yams came out.

I now have two pork chop suppers with yams, broccoli and baked apples.

I sampled the yams while I waited for the apples, and I can truly say I haven't tasted any as sweet and delicious as these since I was a child in the south, and we grew our own.

Eight More Meals

Tomorrow, I'm making a white bean, kale and sausage soup . . . . and will top it with freshly grated Parmesan.  (Organic - don't you know?)

  Great with croutons made from my organic whole grain bread and butter and garlic. 

Apparently,

I,

 who am cooking only for one most of the time,

 and who loves to eat out with friends several times a week,

now have 18 meals on hand.

Not to mention, salads with avocados and the most delicious tomatoes I've eaten in years.

Not to mention the organic pears I'm adding to salads with crumbled bleu cheese and walnuts.

Not to mention the eggs and toast and half and half and breakfast items.

Do you know that there is such a thing as 

organic bacon?

Yes, Virginia 

there

 IS

 fresh, Colorado, grain fed, humanely grown, free range, organic, happy bacon.

Next week's offerings just popped into my email inbox.

I'm ordering salmon and chicken 

and 

I'll let you know how that works out.

P.S.

My juicy, tender, thick, crisp,

pork chop supper is

 AWESOME!

Now, being the sort of borderline skeptic that I am about new things . . .

I'm still waiting to figure out how this is all going to fall apart and somehow disappoint me.

Stay tuned.

Confessions Of A Non Organic Type Girl Who's Trying To Repent

Subtitle:

Joy's Most Simple List Of How Life Will Begin Improving In 2014

(Because it wouldn't let me make the title above any longer.)

Okay . . . 

Confession #1

so I've

  never been a

 real successful,  long-term, granola eating, organic type,

 health food kinda girl.

I've had my moments - notoriously profound and always relatively short lived,

 of getting my act together and eating 'right', 

doing lots of home cooking and taking plenty of vitamins.

Truth is, 

I'm totally busy loving my two wonderful antiques shops, styling homes, travelling around to buy antiques, being a voracious reader, teaching a class and loving social media, 

not to mention family, church and friends.

I keep occupied.

There are things I let slide.

Filing, bookkeeping, dusting, cooking.

Junking,

(I mean antiquing), 

is much more interesting than a lot of other things!

Confession #2

I prefer to keep up with the things I like doing, and

find justification for not doing other things.

Besides, healthy cooking and eating just sound soooooo boring and time consuming

 and as if 

potato chips and bacon could be prohibited!!!!!

Can you relate so far?

Can I hear an 'AMEN'?

However,

2014

is slated to be my year to do some things I promised myself I'd accomplish in 2013.

(And 2012 . . .  and 2011 . . .  and . . .  you get the picture . . . )

I'm NOT going to go crazy gangbusters and flash in the pan right off the bat.

(Is that wayyyy to many colloquialisms in one sentence?)

I AM beginning in a moderate way,

to improve.

I'm a simple 

'one step at a time' 

kinda girl.

I have to prove to myself that this will be worth the 

time, money and effort it will involve.

and that bacon will not become a thing of the past - just saying . . . 

Confession #3

I truly

 don't care to hear one peep

 out of those who already have found nirvana in eating everything organic.

Or those of you who cook everything from scratch and bake your own bread 

and make your own butter.

Love you girls . . . but I don't need ANY pressure here.

(Read "encouragement" or "suggestions" or "recipes".)

This blog is by a successful, professional, leadership type,

(stubborn, hard headed, firstborn,

gotta do it my way)

 sort of girl

who has just taken the first simple step and will proceed at her own pace.

Confession #4

That said, 

if you want to read along and hear the pitfalls and progress of what I'm trying,

then

 welcome to my world.

I'm going to share some 

V E R Y

 simple ways to make life better in 2014.

Simple.   

Repeat: Simple.

Confession #5

I hate a hard sell.  

I detest salesman trying to push products. 

 I abhor friends and family members conning me into something they're sold on.  

I hang up on telephone solicitors.

-I'm a nice person - really I am - 

I was helping my daughter in the kitchen on Christmas day

 and reached into the fridge for milk for my coffee,

 and found 

a GLASS milk bottle. 

 Like from the 1950's.

It read organic. 

 I rolled my eyes.

 She's healthy . . . they eat real food . . . she writes a blog . . . 

okay -she's perfect.

I only have cream in my fridge.  For coffee. 

 I don't tolerate milk.

I mean, my digestive tract doesn't tolerate milk.

I spent too many years being force fed milk as a kid, and was ALWAYS suffering.

Who knew in the 1950's that people couldn't digest cow's milk as well as calves can?

Anyway, I took note while rolling my eyes.

'Door to Door Organics'.

She tells me they really deliver to her door.

"Not just milk mom - all the groceries you need."

"We go to Costco occasionally for some things, but basically, these guys do the bulk of our work for us now."

I ask, "doesn't the milk spoil while the food sits outside your door all day when you're away from home?"

(Can you hear my doubtful tone and sarcasm?)

"Nope - they pack it in ice and you can leave a cooler in a special place and they follow your instructions!"

I think to myself, 

it sure would be nice to not have to go grocery shopping.

End of thought process for that topic.

Later on I thought,

I get into trouble choosing groceries, NOT because I'm stupid or uneducated about what's good for me - but because I am tired and hungry and want immediate gratification and don't want to stand around cooking after Ive been on my feet for 10 hours.

**Please note - this is NOT an advertisement - just the facts of what I'm learning this week - about a bunch of things, including myself.**

Confession #6

Several days later, after a terrible bout of my lifelong diverticulitis and feeling generally miserable, 

I thought to myself,

"you need to get healthy and stop eating all the junk food and processed garbage that you exist on".

Boring!

Time consuming!

Expensive!

The end of the foods I love!

I'm too old to change!

I don't want to!

were my responses to self.

Can you just

 see

 the two little shoulder sitting creatures - angel and devil - sending messages to my brain?

Back to work, 

and my daughter and I are in the shop together

 and she's online during a quiet moment,

 ordering her weekly delivery of Door to Door Organics.

I try to peek over her shoulder in a nonchalant way to see what it looks like, 

but she's done in a flash 

and 

I get nothing.

Hey - I'm not so proud.

I ask what that's all about and she brings their page up and shows me the simplicity of the weekly package,

in which I can swap around

 and substitute items I like for those I wouldn't eat,

and order anything I want from their list of about 1,000 groceries.

(and they have sales - like in your regular grocery store.)

I sit down to check it out. 

 I try a mock order - (you know) - just to see how

 complicated and tasteless and expensive and annoying it will all turn out to be . . . 

and she gives me an "invitation" code that gets me 50% off my first order on the basic box.

What can I say . . . 

I'm progressive and experimental and open minded . . . 

It arrives tomorrow.

I am thankful that my dear daughter is so smart.  I don't know where she gets it from!

Confession #7

Meanwhile,

don't preach at me

to do a clean sweep of my pantry and freezer.  

I will eat my bacon and my chips and my Paul Newman pepperoni pizza and all the other non organic goodies I have in the house. 

 I may even buy more if I feel like it!

In my delivery tomorrow I'm getting:

3 sweet potatoes

3 Roma tomatoes

green kale

1 avocado

garbanzo beans

almonds in dark chocolate and sea salt

ah haaaa!

broccoli

1 large orange

1 anjou pear

2 granny smith apples

2 bananas

2 pork chops

stew beef

half & half

raw sugar

butter

whole wheat bread

asiago and parmesan cheeses

olive oil

sea salt

all organic, mostly local or Colorado,

some Kosher

tada!

It's a small beginning . . . taking a step toward the good life.

There are wonderful recipes and meal suggestions for simple cooks like me.

I have a link to 100 ultra healthy crock pot meals from some health food nut online, so I can be inspired to have supper ready when I get home.

Not just soups and stews and mushy things either. 

I never knew I could bake and brown a whole chicken in the crock pot! 

I'm gonna blog through this and be frightfully honest with you.

So that's my beginning and so far . . . 

it couldn't be easier!

*January is "white sale" month - linens are on sale at the best prices of the year.

Take a quick look at yours and see if this is the time to replace any!

* Stamp prices go up on January 26th - so you may wish to purchase more "Forever" stamps at the old prices before the cost goes up!

* Did you know that laughing out loud burns lots of calories?

Thanksgiving

A few of the things I'm thankful for . . . .

Although I lost my mom this season, I'm thankful for a wonderful family

 filled with people who accept me and hug me and love me. 

 While a lot of folks feel alone in this world, 

I have an incredible network of family and friends to laugh and share life with at any time.

I am especially thankful to work side by side with my daughter, and a group of delightful women!

I'm blessed to make a living doing the work I most enjoy.

I do what I love and love what I do.

Add to that, that I am surrounded by friends who are supportive, talented, 

encouraging and appreciative of

 the world of antiques, history and making a home a special place.

My community of faith . . . those around me who love to celebrate our faith.

There is a bond and communion in shared ideals and beliefs.  

My sweet home . . . perfect for my needs and so cozy and warm and pleasant.

I actually think about how grand it is to have been born into a culture and time

 where hot running water and indoor plumbing and central heat are the norm.  

To cozy up in my favorite chair with a good book and a cup of tea,

to turn up my music and sing outloud,

to cook, nap, putter with decorating or do laundry . . .

it's all heartwarming when you think about it.

I realize how special it is that I have the luxury of making choices in my life.

Sometimes they seem insignificant to me, but I know there are millions in this world who

 would look at my life and see a wealth of opportunities and choices to be had.

Friends!!! 

 I have circles of friends who enrich every aspect of my life. 

 They are every age and stage of life, scattered and near . . . 

We are connected . . . woven together like the warp and weft of a huge, strong tapestry.

They are part of who I have become.

I am needed. 

 It's a basic human desire . . . to be needed and found useful

 and hence, 

to sense that we are valuable to those who know us.

I am thankful.

  

Happy Thanksgiving!

One of My Favorite Stylists

Isn't it nice when we meet people with whom we connect?

I connect with this super talented guy.

Although I've never personally met Matthew, we are indeed on a first name basis.

(At least I refer to him by his first name.)

Truthfully,

my dear friend and soul mate 

Matthew

 has not met me.

At the risk of sounding like a stalker,

I 

LOVE

this guy.

If you're not familiar with his work,

allow me to introduce you.

(Being as we're such good

friends!)

LOL!

Hop over to Matthew's link and see what he's up to.

Matthew has been styling for the best photographers and magazines and books forever.

He's got his own now - and you'll see that he's 

the ultimate

 in

 repurposing and upcycling and styling and creating.

Did I say

"I love this guy"

www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com

FOLK Magazine

There are few products I endorse in my blog,

 but this morning I want to mention a new magazine I've subscribed to,

 called

 FOLK

I just received my initial copy and am fascinated by how lovely it is.

It's filled with real people,

sharing

real stories

about real life.

I found myself identifying with the stories and musing about conversing with the writers.

(A sure sign of a good writer/editor is the ability to engage the reader in this fashion.)

Content, photography, advertisement,

every detail is delightful!

Subscription price is very reasonable.

With a cup of cocoa and some cinnamon toast it made my snowy Sunday afternoon perfect.

Living the Good Life!

Sample them online at

www.magazinebyfolk.com

Joy

Accomplishments

I have accomplished much this afternoon

and

am finally able to relax

and

enjoy a bite to eat before a nice warm soak.

There were boxes of small items to be cleaned and sorted and inventoried and priced.

There was laundry to be washed, folded, hung, ironed and put away.

There was vacuuming to be done.

Dusting away some cobwebs.

There was the dishwasher to run and dishes to be replaced in the cupboards.

Just the ordinary household and work chores that we all have to cope with.

It's been a pleasant time of tidying and rearranging some pretties that I had been taking for granted.

I think I have a sweet little nest

and

am living the good life.

I enjoy refreshing my bookcase displays and counter top collections

and

organizing my closet

for the coming week.

Now

home made soup

 and good bread

and

a cup of tea.

Time to pick up my book and nestle in with my late supper

and enjoy the beauty of all that has been accomplished.

I'm so easily pleased with small touches!

Filing And Sorting and Shovelling Oh My

It's the first day of February, 

and I'm catching up on filing and paperwork.

I'm living the 

GOOD LIFE!

There is always

 too much

 of that filing and sorting and shredding and organizing

and

never quite enough time to do it properly.

It's not my favorite thing to do

by far

and so I tend to let it pile up until the pile topples over

and

I fear that if anyone sees the messiness of stacked and toppled receipts and invoices and business cards and whatever,

 they will think I'm one of those hoarder types who needs to have 

an

intervention.

I can see it now . . . 

they will shake their heads and say,

"we 

always

  knew

she was a little strange

and now we have the evidence

poor dear . . . 

buried alive under

  several tons

of crumpled receipts, paperclips, manila file folders and notes to self!"

Mind you -

this debris is essential to my business

as any antique dealer will confirm.

We faithfully keep exacting records of each item purchased

and

add to that

 receipts

 for the supplies we buy 

to clean, polish, restore, repaint and refurbish every little piece.

Why the paper towels alone run into the thousands of dollars!

There are mileage record books and checkbooks and all those business cards of hundreds of people who wish to

 sell to us,

 or paint for us,

 or convince us to advertise with them.

We 

dare not

discard anything so vital to our potential success!

There are paint sample cards

(oh my . . . I have thousands of those),

and even tiny chips of actual paint we have peeled off some old thing

 to save for reference

 for that day when we 

NEED

 that beautiful shade of robins' egg blue.

It's a little embarrassing!

That's just the tip of the iceberg

but if I blog any longer

I'll lose daylight hours

and

tomorrow it's back to the shop

and whatever paper is still drifting through the air will once again settle in odd places around the house.

So

if you ring the doorbell and I don't answer,

please

please just give me time to claw my way out from under my mountain

and run to greet you!

Don't call the authorities.

Happy filing!

Botanical prints today are courtesy of The Graphics Fairy @  www.thegraphicsfairy.com

Joy is partner/owner at

Dwell Antiques & Home http://www.facebook.com/dwellantiques

Greenwood Village Colorado

303-795-3454

Baby it's Cold Outside

Baby

it's

COLD

outside

In the negative digits here in Colorado, and the windows are icing up

inside as well as outside!

This is a day for doing 

just what you feel like doing

and keeping warm and cozy in every possible way.

I'm taking to time to count my blessings.

It's the day for building a fire if you have a fireplace

 or cranking up the thermostat

just

a

little

and brewing a pot of

 Swiss almond coffee

 and baking brownies or homemade bread.

My vegetable soup is simmering

I've lit my delightful

 Votivo 

candle

and chosen a nice thick to novel to transport me.

My music is playing in the background

I have on an extra thick pair of ski socks

and

I'm enjoying the big leather chair and the mohair throw.

I'm feeling blessed

and

warm and cozy!

Hope you get to take advantage of the day

 and do

 whatever you wish.

"Contentment", Said Grandmother

Contented New Year!

Yes

I wish you contentment!

My grandmother used to say that it was all in how you looked at life.

There is something to be said for that state where you look around you and smile

and know that 

no matter 

what's still on your

 bucket list

or

how many home improvements need to be accomplished

you are indeed

 blessed and content 

to be living at a level

 high above most of the world

in a country where we can 

 worship

vote

purchase property

buy groceries

attend public school

express our opinions over the internet

cuddle our children 

choose a radio station

use the library

and 

have our mail delivered

I am happy to be loved and to have friends.

I'm happy 

 to have 

hot running water and indoor plumbing and electricity

to be warm and protected from the elements

to be able to cozy up with a book and my tea and cookies

to have a phone and a computer and a car and work I love.

I'm delighted

to get to buy a new coat and mittens,

and

to give  Christmas presents to those whom I love.

I am blessed to be able to support those causes I believe in.

I'm at a peaceful place of recognizing that I have

 little to

 complain about

 or 

long for

SO,

while

I pray that you enjoy 

that rollicking

 feel good

 laughing till you can't breathe

stitch in the side

gasping

giggling

euphoria

that

comes along once in awhile

What I think is even more significant

and 

essential to our long term

 peace of mind

is

that 

deep, cognizant sense of 

being content 

with all that we have

Thanks Grandma!