HELLO ~ Anyone out there?!!

OK...I know I am new at blogging.

But I do know that comments are a big part of the experience. As you can see, comments from you are sparse. I am also guilty of blog stalking(that's when you look and don't become a follower or leave a comment). Actually I have done this quite often.
But now I get why bloggers ask for your input.
We need to know if anyone is out there.

So I have decided to ask the few followers I have
(mostly family- you can tell because they have the same last name as me)
to let me know which photo below is your favorite!





I love frames with nothing in them.

I'm going to try to do this some place in my house.
I've already started looking for unique frames
when ever I do a little shopping!

I'd love to know your thoughts on frames with nothing in them!

Weird or not?

You vote and let me know which photo you like best and if frames with nothing in them are weird or not?

Let me hear from you!!

Have a wonderful Day!!

Happy
Valentine's
Day!

Reinvent?!

More
That's right More Magazine.
Along with tons of decor magazines I also get More magazine.
It's geared towards women 40 and older and each month the
editor-in-chief, Lesley Jane Seymour writes a letter to us.

This month's title was Ready, Set, Micro-Reinvent.


Well, I am ready. How about you?
So to sum it up, she hit on 5 things for a quick reinvention.

1. Get more bang for your buck from your exercise bike
(Can't say I use a exercise bike)
2. Cramming in mini Kegels (ok,ok I'll keep trying to do this)
3. Wash your hair less - and it will look better (Really?!!)
4. Reinvent your nightlife
(Wow, where does she live! It's really, really cold here!)
5. Make friends with silicone (What!!)

She's talking about Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.
It has silicone in it, which help cover up laugh lines and makes your foundation go on like butter. So I found the website and ordered it. Love it!
She's right. It's cost around $36. And it didn't require any exercise!
I even think gals under 40 will love it.

Sometimes I come across something that I just think is so great
I need to tell all the women in my family.
This is one of those things.

Things that make you go Mmmmmm!

What's your style?
I love, love, Love, French Country!

So... here are a few photo's that inspire me.

I realize that this style doesn't do it for everyone.

I know it doesn't do it for my daughter. But she knows what she likes.
She likes Bohemian with a little bit of Shabby Chic.
I know this because of the things she says she likes, when we go shopping.

Figuring what you like is the first step to creating what you Love!

Go to the bookstore and start going through all kinds of decorating magazines.
It won't take long before you figure out what trips your trigger.

I actually love a lot of different styles.
I love southwest, traditional, shabby chic and yes, even little modern.

But my true love is French Country!

Things that make me go Mmmmm.......

Have a wonderful day!

Step Out of Your Box, Baby!!

Do you remember this camera?
Do you remember Flashcubes?
Well, I do!!

Or.....
Do you remember Polaroid camera's that looked like this?
They have new, smaller ones now.

This is what we have now.
Nice, compact and easy to use!
For Whom?
For me, I can only do it once (with help) then I can't remember the next time.
And now the kids are gone. So who will help me?
And trying to upload them to my computer and cropping or enlarging them.
Well.... that's a whole other story!!

So what should I do?
Well the only natural thing is to take a Photoshop class!
Right, a 48 year old homemaker takes a college class!
Well that's what I am doing in March. I am scared to death!
But I have a great support system. So here I go!!

Join me and try stepping out of your box. Try something new.
It is very empowering!

Indoor Herb Garden!

Since I have been trying to cook healthier meals, I have needed to buy more and more fresh herbs.
Fresh herbs make any meal taste so much better.
The problem is I only use a small amount and then end up throwing the rest out.
So...I decided to grow my own. I researched it on the internet.
Then I went shopping!


I found these great herb boxes at my favorite store - Home Goods!

I also picked up four clay pots and saucers.

As you can see the boxes have a plastic liner.

Which is great for me as I have a tendency to over water or forget to water at all.
Gardening is not my gift. But I love a great looking garden.
So I keep trying.


Then I went to a local greenhouse and bought the herbs I use most.
From my research I learned that it is best to buy your herbs already started.
And as I said, growing something from seed
is way to much for my very un-green thumb.......
so I bought the plants.

I think they look great!
Now let's see if I can keep them alive. Ugh!

As you can see from the above photo, there is a lot of snow out the window.
But my new herb garden makes me think of spring!!

Ta Da!!

I filled my new urn.
Micheal's had 50% 0ff most of their floral. So I took advantage of the savings. I also found these great dried artichokes at Pottery Barn.
Gotta say, I Love It!!

I have this problem- When ever I have a floral arrangement done by a florist I don't like it.
The thing is, I picture how it should look in my head.
But...I have a difficult time explaining it to the florist. I usually end up going home and pulling some things out and adding other things.

So.....

I search the internet and get ideas.
I go to google images and type in urns.
Then I search through and get inspired.
After that I go shopping!
I put a 5 in. green styrofoam ball(from Michael's) in the urn so I have something to stick the stems into. I also get some moss to use as filler.
Then, I make a giant mess.

And wallah!....a new arrangement is born!

Have a great Weekend.

Yum!!

I just ordered this!

I already have this!

And, I just made this for dinner!
~Turkey Chili Crunch~
It was awesome. It has cocoa in it and bittersweet chocolate grated on top.

I've also made this several times.
~Turkey Mini-Meatloaves with Roasted Root Veggies~
The sauce on top is spicy and the meatloaves are so tender!
~Yum~

I have tried to make Turkey Burgers and they are always dry!
But not these. They taste great and are easy.
The toppings make it even better. (Lettuce, Tomato and Avocado)

~Southwestern Turkey Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries~

Cook Yourself Thin doesn't sound like a lot of fun.
But these recipes are some of my favorites.
My husband even likes them,
and he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy.
Some of the recipes call for quit a few ingredients but the taste is worth the extra time at the store.

Let me know what you think!

Love Them!!

My "Shopping Motto" is:
Only buy it if you absolutely love it!

After many years of buying things to only find out later that I didn't really have a place for them or that I just didn't really like them. I have learned to ONLY buy it if
I love, love, Love It!
There is nothing worse than trying to find a place for stuff that you just don't love. Or worse yet taking it to the thrift shop because you have found something you like better.

Anyway here are my new/old "gotta love them" buys!

This urn is made of cement. I plan to use it on my island in my kitchen.
I 'm going to fill it with dried stuff.
I'll try to show you a picture when I 'm finished.

I have a bedroom in my house that I call my Shabby Chic Room.
Here is a great stool that I found. I plan to use it as a plant stand. It looks perfect next to the two old window frames that I had mirrors put in.

Now to find something fun to go on the stool?!

Ok!
Here is the best find of all.
As I have said before I have a French country kitchen so when I find a rooster I go crazy. Sure there are tons of rooster things out there. But not an old punched tin rooster in a even older green paint- worn frame!
Yeah!
I love, love, LOVE IT!!

It looks great on both sides. Now which way do I hang it!

Happy Treasure Hunting!

New addition to the Family!

This is Bubba!
He is our son and daughter-in-laws new English Bulldog puppy.


We think he's Awesome!

What to do, What to do!

This is my space.

It is above my island in the kitchen. I like the light fixtures. But.....I think it needs a little change. Our home is a cross between French Country and a English Cottage. So I have been thinking pot racks.French kitchens always have copper in them. And I love copper. I've had copper pieces in my kitchens ever since I was first married, more than 28 years ago.

The trouble with the lights is they put out a funky glow in the kitchen. They are not a task light and since I do most of my tasks at this island I need something else. Do I buy a pot rack with lights already in them (keep in mind I have two electrical boxes) or do I buy new pendant lights and put a pot rack in between?

Oh,what to do!

Here are some options that I am considering.

I could use two of these. As you can see there are 2 light fixtures in each.
That would give me quite a bit of light.

Or, how about this one? I could put this in between two pendant lights.
I love the color of the metal.

Here are a few more ideas that could go on the wall. If I decide to only change the light fixtures.

This last picture is a little to busy for me but I still like to look! I believe inspiration comes from really looking at all different styles!

A little bit of Spring!

For $6.00 a bunch I bought a little bit of Spring today. I was out to lunch with my mom and sister and on my way home I noticed a sign that said," Tulips $6 a bunch." I quickly took a sharp right almost hitting the car next to me. But I needed some spring today! It is a wind chill of -13 below tonight and tomorrow is a high of 1 degree. Ugh!
Fresh spring flowers just make me feel better.

So go out and buy yourself a little bit of spring.
It doesn't have to cost much but it sure puts you in a happy mood!

Love It! But at what cost?

I love Viva Terra. It's a great catalog with all kinds of stuff that just calls my name. I have the perfect place for this vintage real slate chalkboard. After using a chalkboard for years to keep my kids organized, I now need it to keep my menopausal-self organized. It's great to write the days of the week and then put down what ever I have going on each day.

But at what cost? At $175 plus shipping and tax I am looking at $209. I think with some help from my step-dad I will try to tackle this myself. He can use a saw and I love chalkboard paint.

So.... I will update you on my new chalkboard!

My Baby!

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Originally uploaded by rand.cindy

To know me is to know my 3 year old English Bulldog, Lulu.
She make me laugh everyday. Bulldogs are stubborn and Lulu is the worst. Don't get me wrong, she's been to obedience class and we are always telling her "NO". But Lu does what she wants, at her own pace. Actually she's really a pretty great dog. Just a little slow to react. So if I say Lulu this or Lulu that, you will know who I am talking about. Seriously, how could you not love that face!!