Why?

Why would anybody sale something like this?

I have no idea.

But their loss,
is most definitely my gain!

I found these today at a yard sale for $1. $1!!!!!!!

I love them!

I have some that are not on a stand at home.

I bought them at an estate sale years ago

and I have another pair that's made into a lamp

(why, I have no idea).

I just had to show you what someone would sell for a dollar.

I guess there are people who are not as sentimental as I am.

What about you?

Did your mother have your baby shoes bronzed?

Or are you more like me,

Lucky to have a couple of my baby pics at all!!!?????

Maybe that's why I'm so sentimental!

Hmmmmmm.....

Mark Twain

A few years ago,

When I had some serious decisions to make,

but I was so scared that I would make a terrible mistake,

one of my friends quoted an elderly friend of his as saying,

'When your old, and you look back at your life,

you don't regret the things you tried and failed,

you regret the things you never tried.'

So I went for it.

Times have not always been easy.

As a matter of fact,

there have probably been more hard times than easy times,

but I've always went back to that statement.

And I don't regret the decision I made

to go for it!

Well today, I came across a quote that was so similar to that quote.

But this one was attributed to Mark Twain....

'Twenty years from now

you will be more disappointed

buy the things you didn't do

than by the ones you did.

So throw off the bowlines,

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Wow, I love that.

What Every Woman Should Know

I came across this piece yesterday,

'30 things Every Woman should know and have before she's 30'.

And while I've read version's of it before,

several things in it really clicked this time.

It could be, that the older

(and wiser)

I get,

the more relevance it has to my life.

I looked it up

and it was originally written

in 1997

by Pamela Redmond Satran

in the Glamour Magazine.

I read her original,

And I changed the title to

'What Every Woman Should Know and Have'

Because all of us didn't know

and have these things by 30.

Some of us are still working on them.

Then I added a few lines from others

I've read,

and then I added a couple of my own.

I'd love for you to comment and leave some

of your words of wisdom that

you've learned along the way as well.

Or even some that we're all still striving for.

As I age and mature

I'm finding out that life is SO far from perfect!

But that it is a wonderful life to live!

So here it is, Enjoy....

What Every Woman should have:

1.One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.

2.A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.

3.Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.

4.A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.

5.A youth you’re content to move beyond.

6.A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.

7.The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.

8.An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you.

9.A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.

10.One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.

11.A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.

12.Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.

13.The belief that you deserve it.

14.A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.

15.A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better.

16. Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to.

16.A feeling of control over her destiny.

17. A good friend that will help you move and a best friend that will help you move a body!

What Every Woman Should Know:

1.How to fall in love without losing yourself.

2.How you feel about having kids, and if you've already raised your kids, the peace in knowing

you did the best you could.

3.How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

4.When to try harder and when to walk away.

5.How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.

6.The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.

7.How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.

8.How to take control of your own birthday.

9.That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.

10.That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.

11.What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.

12.That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.

13.Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.

14.Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.

15.Why they say life begins at 30.

16. Where to go when your soul needs soothing; be it to her best friend's kitchen table, or a charming Inn in the woods.

Browsing around at Anthropology

Hello My Bloggy Friends.

I thought I would share with you some photos

I snapped (with my cell phone)

a couple weekends ago

when I was privileged enough

to get to go to the Anthropology store

at a nearby outside Shopping Center.

Its always a treat for me to go

and get wonderful ideas

of how they can make the simple,

utilitarian pieces,

and make them extraordinary!

Often, just by how they arrange their merchandise.

My wonderful, patient,

and loving husband

as well as my two youngest,

well behaved children

accompanied me on this venture,

however, they all gave out

after a few minutes

and just sat down on some

of the wonderful pieces of worn

and comfortable pieces of furniture

they happen to have there

(I wonder if that's happened before? HMMMM).

Anyhoo, on this trip,

I actually got to buy something there!!!

Which is actually,

I'm almost ashamed to say it....

the first time, EVER

at this wonderful store!!!

(but I hope not the last!)

Remember, I posted a this pic of this a couple weeks ago?

These spice jars were on clearance

for under $2 each!!!!

I know....

Don't hate me.

I tried to find numbers in order,

but I was too late for that.

So I just went for random numbers.

But actually,

now that I have them,

I like the random numbers better!!!

My 8 year old son, Jonah,

used his $2 he had saved to buy himself one.

Takin' after his mama.

I'm so proud!

He has his jar

in his room

with his very smallest rocks in his collection.

So after I looked through the store once,

I then went through and snapped a few pics

to share with you.

How great is this mirror on an old door!!!!

This looks just like one of those

70's Gold Mirrors

you find at garage sales all the time!!!!

But the paint and distressing makes all the difference!!!

I can recreate this one for sure!!!!

And there is my cute (and sometimes goofy)

husband's reflection

in the awesome mirror.

Moss covered foam block?!!!!

Ahhhhh, yeah, I think I can do that!!!!

Moss covered foam ball???

Yeah again!!!!

I like these shelves,

and if you will look closer at the way the pitcher is hanging....

Looks like iron S hooks,

Love those.

Do you see the spoon?

Here it is close up....

Really cute idea to stamp

old silver or silver plate spoons

to label plants.

I love that idea!!!

Random cuteness!

That cute little decorator

over there looking at knobs is

my Jonah.

I love the primitive boxes used as a shelves.

Well, there he is again!!!

And there is my most beautiful daughter, Deidra.

She's 12 and she informed me that

she LOVES this bed!

I think you can really mix and match

anything you like these days!!!!

Who would have ever thought ruffles would come back?

Especially on the front of blouses????!!!!

They say that home design

follows fashion design.

I guess the comforter and

lots of the pillows I've seen lately

proves thats true!!!

And this last pic is of the store next door

that my pre-teen dragged me into.

Oh Lord, help me!

Goin on 16!!!

Well,

I hope you enjoyed our little tour of
Anthropology.

I have now officially subscribed to their
catalog,

and actually already gotten it in the mail.

But it's not as good as the store,

moss covered outside walls and all.


Luv it!!!

.

My Poor Poor Book

Do you ever feel like saying,

Why me?

I'm sure you do,

everybody does, right?

Well I have kind of a funny story for you.

I have been drooling over a huge,

hand blown cloche

at Trish Land for MONTHS now.

They are beautiful as well as expensive.

So I finally put one on lay-a-way.

I thought....

I won't feel as guilty,

if I just pay maybe $5 here and there.

Well, God stepped in.

I had gotten some really cool

Enamel French House Numbers

from a Rummage Sale

and when I took them in for my friend

to see that owns the shop...

She just had to have them!

She basically said I wasn't leaving with them.

Don't get me wrong,

I LIKED them,

and I'm really sure I coulda' took her

if it had come down to it...

But to save all that.......

I traded her for the beautiful Cloche

I've been wanting.........

(Sorry, bad pics, took with my cell phone)

and she also threw in several

other things in to make it EVEN MORE

appealing to me.

One thing that closed the deal

was this DELIGHTFUL French Decorating Book.

The LAST one in the store I have to say.

I loved it!!!

It was LOADED

with wonderful photographs

that I had only begun to explore.

Yes....

I said had.

Yesterday,

In my haste to get home from work

and unload the car

to get 2 kids to

2 separate ball practices,

on 2 completely different sides of town.....

I (notice I have NO ONE else to blame here)

must have left my prized book

and a Victoria magazine on the back of my car.

I didn't even think of it

until we got to the ball field

and I started to look for it

so I could longingly savor the glorious photographs of France and all the wonderful
decorating that is only French

while my kids played in the red dirt.

So I called our 17yr old son

still at home,

he went to the street to look for it for me.

He found the Victoria magazine,

that I had gotten at the THRIFT STORE

by the way.

My book, however,

my $40 book

that I probably wouldn't,

in a million years,

buy for myself,

gone.

Not a sign of it anywhere.

Oh well,

easy come.........

Apothocary Jars -n- eggs

Hello My Friends.

I hope you are all are having a wonderful day!!!

Can you believe it's finally turning spring?!!!!

I'm so glad!!!!

Although..... in my world.....

this means freezing while watching the kids at baseball/softball practices!!!!

I mean....Burrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

But pretty soon.....

We'll all be so hot and sunburned and we will wish for just a little breeze!!!!!

I haven't done a lot of

Easter Decorating yet.......

even though......

I've had the best of intentions!!!!

I did do a quick project for a table at my office.

I thought you might like to have a peek!!!!

My Supplies......

These apothecary jars I got at TJ Maxx

a while back.

I love the size of these

and they were very inexpensive!!!

One of them is a little uneven

on the bottom

and will rock back and forth just a little bit...

but that doesn't bother me in the least!!!

Do you know how many ways you can use an apothecary jar!!!!!!

The possibilities are endless!!!

I had some of these other things

from left over projects at home.

The little eggs and chicks

are on sale at Hobby Lobby and

are about a dollar!!!!

For the whole pack!!!

I just layered

some of the spanish moss

and green moss

and put in some of the eggs and chicks in.

Cute huh?
These cute rabbits I found about a month ago at the Thrift Store.

Mrs. Rabbit needs a little basket or something.


Here's the whole little scene so far.

I know I will probably add some more fufu

but I though they turned out to be cute.

I purchased the Amazing Grace plaque

with the rusty nail

last year for the office,

and I've kept it out all year.


I'll probably end up taking one of these jars

home and paring each one with a cloche.

I think that will look good,

but I thought I'd give you a quick,

easy and cheap idea to decorate for Easter.


Have you started decorating yet?

Mooresville and Belle Mina

Hello my friends!!!!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful day!!!

I thought I would share a few photo's that I shot this last weekend in a historic town within 15 minutes of my house!!!

Most of these were taken at Historic Mooresville and the ones of the little white church were taken about 5 minutes away from there at Belle Mina.

I hope you Enjoy!!!!

Wow!!!!

I'm amazed and astounded at the beauty surrounding me.

Sometimes, we're just too busy to notice it!!!

I also took some at a historic Civil War Home.

I'll try to post a few of those tomorrow!!!

Until then!!!

How to make a terrarium

I have fallen in love with all the French/Country/Farmhouse decorating.

I think one of the reasons I love it so much is that I can use what I have on hand.

Things I've inherited or thrifted or someone passed on to me because they didn't want it anymore!

These are the things most people

wouldn't find appealing at all.

But somehow, once you get it arranged.

And as Christopher Lowell used to say, you put your hand to it.

Suddenly, it takes on a new life

And people will say,

"I would have never thought to do that"

Sometimes,

I wouldn't either.

Sometimes its just a happy accident,

or I have copied something I've seen in a magazine or on blog!

I just look around

and see what I have

or what I can make that is similar,

then I just start,

and somehow.....

it just comes together!

So today, just because I am so happy

to finally have it finished...

I'm going to show you the terrarium I just finished this past weekend.

It all started with this pile of stuff !

I just went around my house trying to find some rustic things....

I had found the small spice jars

on clearance at Anthropology !!!!!

(which I love, love, love, but normally can't afford).

I think this brass thing

is an old watering can.

I just love the look of it!!!

I found it a few weeks ago at the SA for $1.25!!!!

Yes, I said $1.25!

The rocks and round decorative pieces I got at a yard sale I think last year.

The moss, bird nest, and robin eggs

I purchased recently

(very inexpensively)

to use in Easter Decorations.

And the plants I got from one of my FAVORITE local stores called Trish Land!

I will be featuring this wonderful place soon!

I have to show you what wonderful things

they have!

I think me and the owner Trish

are kindred spirits!

Because we love all the same things!

She also has a wonderful eye

and an amazing gift!!!

She can just place things and make them look FABULOUS!!!!

And here is the terrarium I'm going to use. Isn't it cute?!!!!!

I know, I love it without anything in it!!!

So, I just started adding stuff in,

Spanish moss on the bottom for filler....

Then some green moss...

Then stuff.....

Then more stuff......

And before long (like 5 minutes)

it turned out to look like this!

I know, cute huh?!!!!

The bell cloche in the top on the right

is an old candle holder turned upside down

that used to sit in a wire base.

I did add a couple more things to the back right corner after this pic was taken.

My youngest son, Jonah, went out and found some 'nature' things he wanted me to add in.

What a sweetie pie he is!

Do you see the

small terracotta pot

right in the middle?

It is some wheat grass

Jonah and I are waiting to grow.

My friend Trish I was just telling you about

grows this grass from seeds

in all sorts of containers

and it is just beautiful!!!

I was in the other day and she planted some

in this little pot so me and my little ones

could watch how fast and easy it grows.

Its just been a couple days

since I took this pic

and its grown like 2 inches!!!!

So that's all there is to it!!!

Just use what you have,

add a couple plants

and you have a one of a kind terrarium!!

I love mine!!!

And the plants do too!!!

They thrive in their glass house!!!

You hardly have to water them at all!!!

I try to just check every day or two

and I keep a spray bottle handy

and just give um a mist or two

if they look thursty or feel dry.

So now......

I wanna see yours!!!!!