Category Archives: Inspire

Smile at a Stranger

Last week my friend Anne lost her husband after a tough BaTtLe with cancer.  They had just celebrated their son’s first birthday and through it all Anne managed to stay upbeat, positive, and grateful for their time together as a family.  The night before her husband passed she wrote, “Hug your loved ones and smileContinue reading “Smile at a Stranger”

{Peace With Food}

This past April, on the Suede Sofa, Lara and I began a 6-month challenge encouraging our readers to pursue a dream or a goal.  My PeRsOnaL ChAllEnGe was to have PeAcE WiTh FoOd.  I’ll have to admit, although the challenge ended October 1st, I’m still working on that.  In fact, this has been a work in progress forContinue reading “{Peace With Food}”

{GRATITUDE PARTY}

It is so EaSy to get caught up in every thing that is going “WrOnG” in our life that we can ToTallY miss ALL the good things that have happened to us.  If you’re in the habit of attending PiTy PaRtiEs for yourself, why not try having a GrAtiTuDe PaRty and CouNt all the BleSsInGs you have in your life.  MaybeContinue reading “{GRATITUDE PARTY}”

My Dream {Greeley} Extreme Home

I dream about ReNoVaTiNg little cottages and cool old buildings.  This old school house in the cute little town of Greeley, KS is one that captures my ImaGinAtioN everytime I pass by it on the way to Kansas City.  Just thought I would share! Couldn’t you just imagine one huge great room on the first floor.  I alsoContinue reading “My Dream {Greeley} Extreme Home”

{Gravity}

One of my personal “TrAdiTioNs” each summer is to go off the HiGh-DiVe at least one time.  This past summer I was in great company during this yearly AdReNaLiNe RiTuaL of mine.  I was the only female in the deep end and (at age 43) brought down the average age of the 12 or so swimmers to AbOuT 10-YeArS oLd.  GetContinue reading “{Gravity}”

{Where Are You?}

I love the HoLiDaYs.  If you’ve been reading our recent posts you may already know that.  However, my EnThUsiaSm and JoY is tempered with CoMpaSsioN for others because I know of many who are going through great PaiN and SorRoW at this very moment.  Some have lost jobs or struggle to make ends meet, others have been givenContinue reading “{Where Are You?}”

I AM…OSA JOHNSON {WORLD FAMOUS EXPLORER, AUTHOR, & AVIATOR} AND I LIVED MY DREAM!

ImAgIne sitting down for an interview with Osa Johnson when she was alive.  Well, that’s exactly what the Suede Sofa did.  We asked SaFaRi MuSeUm CuRaToR JacKie BorGeSoN if she could find quotes from Osa on a couple of questions regarding this InCrEdibLe WoMaN from Chanute, Kansas, LiViNg HeR DrEaM.  The answers were amazing, as if we actually did interviewContinue reading “I AM…OSA JOHNSON {WORLD FAMOUS EXPLORER, AUTHOR, & AVIATOR} AND I LIVED MY DREAM!”

Bedroom Makeover

Last Thursday at about 10 a.m. I walked through our master bedroom and decided I was tired of it looking like an afterthought.  I didn’t want to spend much money and wanted a new look.  I gave Robynn a call, and she picked up a couple cans of antique white spraypaint, a package of dropclothsContinue reading “Bedroom Makeover”

So God Made a Farmer

This week there was haRveSt on the Shoup farm.  We had a drought this year and the beans could have been better, but it is always a fUn time of year because the colors are changing, the weather is enjoyable, and we finally get to reap the benefits of all of our haRd work. TheContinue reading “So God Made a Farmer”