Princess In Training and Comfort Food

This past Saturday a dream came true for Taylor. She went with her mom and I to the Junior League Holiday Market held locally which kicks off the Christmas shopping season. So much eye candy! One of the children's activities is put on by a company that specializes in children's parties and features a lot of story book princesses. After the show, the "princesses" walk around and you can have your picture taken with them. So Taylor was so excited to get her picture taken with Cinderella. Unfortunately, I can't remember who the other princess was. Cinderella (the blonde in the blue dress) is a girl that graduated from high school with Shannon. She is a very sweet and lovely girl and was so sweet to Taylor!

Here she is with Ariel (the redhead) and I don't know the other "character" person

When we got back home she was tired from all the walking and shopping and picture taking so here she is with her Pop (remember this is hubby's "other woman")

I'm guessing those intense looks are from watching Auburn football!

Santamaker is featuring "no brainer" foods on her blog this week. If you haven't checked it out, go over there and see all of the "no brainer" foods that are being shared by other bloggers. Tonight it is cold here in Alabama so we are having soup and sandwiches....can't get much easier than that!

Chicken and rice soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

Today my daughter Shannon "scolded" me cause I didn't say anything on my blog about her birthday this past weekend. She said I had done a special post on her brother's birthday in July but no mention of hers on Saturday! While I know she joking, let me be sure to say a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Shannon for her birthday which was October 25th! Gotta be nice to the kids so they'll come see me in the nursing home in my old age!

All kidding aside, she is my miracle baby. I went into labor with her on Mother's Day when I was about 5 months pregnant. My husband took me to the ER where the doctor said he would try and stop the labor but if not, I would more than likely lose the baby. I was given a sedative and drifted off.....the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital room the next morning and seeing my daddy smiling at me.....the labor had stopped! I was supposed to be on bed rest until my due date which was in late September/early October. How could I be on bed rest when I had a 2 1/2 year old running around? Finally, my doctor induced labor on a bright and beautiful Monday morning and shortly thereafter I had a beautiful baby girl! She was and is perfect in every way! She was about 3 weeks overdue and hasn't been on time since!

HAPPY {BELATED} BIRTHDAY SHANNON - I LOVE YOU!

Mom

Breakfast for Supper

We love breakfast for supper. It's quick and easy and s-o-o-o much better than those breakfast bars. A while back I discovered Breakfast Skillets by Jimmy Dean. In addition to this stuff tasting great, they've done all the work for you....chopping up the peppers and onions and adding meat and hash browns. We like the one with ham but they have sausage and bacon flavors too.

Just put in a preheated skillet with a little oil and cook for approximately 10 minutes or until done

The package call for scrambling eggs in with the hash brown combo but I usually cook them in a separate pan

And there you have it! A quick but filling meal in a snap! Oh, I also baked some cinnamon rolls with creme cheese icing instead of biscuits.....yum yum!

How many of ya'll like to fix breakfast for supper? I would love to know some of your favorite receipes.

The "Other Woman"

Well, I never thought there'd be another woman in my husband's life but he just can't hide his feelings any longer. Today he actually called me from the mall where he'd been shopping for her! Can you believe it?!?!?! I've seen her and she's beautiful.....long blonde hair, big blue eyes, killer smile, and a diva if I've ever seen one....how can I compete with that? She came into his life about 4 1/2 years ago and it was love at first sight. Of course, I have to admit, I love her too! Have you guessed who she is? It's our little granddaughter, Taylor Elizabeth! She has her Pop wrapped around her little finger. Just to show you how much, let me tell you why he called me from the mall today.

A few weeks ago, he and a few of his guy friends went to eat at the mall for lunch. He was sitting across from the Build-A-Bear store and the Hannah Montana bear caught his eye. He bravely got up and went into the store to inquire about the Hannah Montana bear. Taylor has recently discovered Hannah Montana and all she can do is sing that song "The Best Of Both Worlds" . Her ballet/tap class even danced to it last week at parent's day. She was in heaven....but let me get back to the bear story. Over the weekend, hubby was anxious to get the bear "before they sell out". So today, he went back to the mall to get the bear and here's what he did in the name of love for her:

First you pick out the bear...in this case...Hannah Montana bear.

Then you pick up a heart for the bear and here's the part I would have given anything to see:

1. He put the heart on his head so she'll be smart

2. Put the heart on your elbow (funny bone) so she'll have a sense of humor

3. Finally put the heart close to his heart, closed his eyes and made a wish then placed the heart inside the bear.

Wouldn't you have loved to be in a Build A Bear store and see this big burly man doing all that for one little girl?

So here's how hubby summed up his experience:

Hannah bear - $22.00

Sequin guitar outfit - $13.50

Silver ballet flat = $6.00

Silver gem purse - $6.00

"Best of Both Worlds" song - $5.00

Long blonde wig - $6.00

Total cost: $59.50 (plus tax)

The look on Taylor's face on Christmas - PRICELESS!

Now if that ain't love, I don't know what is!

Fall In Love With The Cottage Look

Ya'll are in for a real treat. Remember a few posts back when I told about running into my friend Linda in the Wal Mart parking lot, followed her home and bought my gorgeous kitchen table from her? If you want to read about that, you can click here. Linda is a very talented decorator and artist. She has one of the most interesting and beautiful booths in a local flea market/antique mall and is very successful (as you can imagine). In addition to her decorating skills, she also does custom furniture painting for the home, she can provide lamps, pictures, architectural pieces, and just about anything you need. Her services for custom work are very much in demand so she is one busy lady. She was kind enough to allow me to photograph some of the rooms in her home. Get ready to feast your eyes!



We'll start out in the foyer. Her entire house is painted in this yummy gray color which is a wonderful backdrop for her white pieces.

This bench is one of her latest finds. I love the way she uses the pop of turquoise/aqua for contrast.

Now for some photos of the master bath....I could live in here!

Hey ya'll!

What a clever idea....she took an old mantle piece and hung it upside down over her tub

Now let's go to the master bedroom. Love this floor lamp that she painted white and added the shade with crystal dangly things. She uses those EVERYWHERE and on EVERYTHING!

Bottom of the lamp, I believe she added these feet

Gorgeous bed and bedding

What a wonderful piece this is. A little linen sofa (where you can toss pillows at night)

Moving into the dining room, she spray painted her gold chandy white and added more danglys. I have this exact chandy in my dining room but for now it will remain gold

She uses this aqua color throughout for a pop of color. This mirror is another example of her painting talents

A little peek into her den

And last but not least is the kitchen. Notice all the architectural elements she uses over the doors, or anywhere they fit. She is looking for some of these pieces for my kitchen and bedroom

Collection of white pitchers against the background of that aqua


Going out the backdoor is this sweet angel


This piece is also in her kitchen facing you as you walk in the back door

Some of her artwork can be seen here (picture of the two girls near the bar area)

I want that screen!

I took a lot more pictures but I think you get the idea of how beautiful her house is. She has recently been asked to participate in our local Junior League Holiday Market being held here in October. Not sure what all she is showing, art and possibly some furniture. If you live in my area, I hope you can make the Holiday Market and be sure to check out Linda's space. Also, if any of you are interested in getting some custom pieces done for your home, please e-mail me and I will get you in touch with Linda.

Now let me go look around my house for how I can incorporate the cottage look.

Yard Sale Time!

For all you Montgomery area bloggers and yard sale divas, I'm having a big blow out yard sale this Saturday, October 18th beginning at 7:00 a.m. If you are interested in checking it out, please e-mail me for directions to my house.

Our Anniversary

Sunday, October 12th, is my 5 year anniversary. At times it seems we've been married longer than that and at other times, I wonder what in the heck was I thinking?!?!?!? My first marriage ended in a very dramatic divorce after being separated for 3 years from my husband of 23 years. Any of you girls out there who have experienced divorce after a long term marriage can relate to the depression and heartache that brings....especially when it comes out of the blue. Of course, upon reflection, there were red flags and signs but I chose to ignore them. But this post is not about that time in my life, but the life that my 2nd husband has given me.

I did not date for the 7 years I was single. After my divorce, and because I worked for a domestic relations attorney, I had no desire to enter the single scene. After all, I was 40-something and had not been on a date since I was 19 years old! How to act, what to say, and at the time I could not be myself, cause I didn't even know who I was. So I trudged along in my life, getting stronger and more secure about myself, until one day David came out of the blue. If you want to know "How I Met My Husband" you can read all about it here.


My husband works two jobs to provide for us. While we do not live a lavish lifestyle, neither do we go without. I have everything I need and more. There is nothing I have ever asked for that he has not given me. Of course, I have lots of "wants" vs. "needs" according to him! I'm sure it has not always been easy for him to understand why I "need" to repaint and redecorate on a fairly regular basis but he just goes along with whatever I want to do. He does have to put the brakes on me from time to time cause I might tend to get a little overboard (I can't believe I'm saying that!). The most precious gift he has given me, beyond his love and concern for me, is that he truly loves my grown children and their children. These are his grandkids as much as if they were his blood relation. He also sees about the comfort of my 88 year old mother. She loves him and as a matter of fact, she told my best friend that she "prayed him up" for me. Apparently, she was praying that I would meet someone in my life so that I wouldn't be alone.


It has not always been an easy five years. We were both single for a long time and both somewhat set in our ways and no one likes to change. We certainly don't see eye to eye on a lot of matters but at the end of the day, there is no one I'd rather spend the rest of my life with. I can't imagine life without him. I guess I'll keep him!!!!



A few weeks before we got married, we went to Fairhope, Alabama (a beautiful town near Mobile) for beach pictures with my children and their spouses. Here is our picture, taken at the end of a long day on the beach (guess that's why I have that goofy look!). Oh, did I mention, he's 12 years younger than me! I call him my "boy toy"!

Now ya'll know I can't have a post without a little decorating thrown in. I picked up my monogrammed euro shams today for our bedroom. Still a lot to do but I wanted you to see how pretty they turned out.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

I'm In Headboard Heaven!

Today my headboard finally arrived from Ballard's! I ordered it back mid-August and while I realize that "custom orders" take some time, I was getting a little tired of waiting. But it was worth the wait as you'll see further down.



First up, let me show ya'll another project I'm working on. Shannon has been looking for an armoire type cabinet for Taylor's room for her TV....not too big and not too expensive! I stopped in at the Goodwill last week and found this little cabinet for $50! It appeared to be a new piece that someone had painted over (not a very good job either) and made this little louvered door and cut out a hole in the back for all the cord things to run through. I called Shannon and she said to go ahead and get it. Started painting it over the weekend but ran out of time and paint so I'll get it finished up this coming weekend (I hope). We are going to use the gel stain on top to give it a dark wood finish instead of painting the top of it. For $50, I thought it was a pretty good deal.


There are two drawers that go in that space at the bottom which will be great for storage.





Now for more stuff I'm working on STILL in the kitchen. It has been real slow coming together because the look is new for me and I'm taking it one step at a time, not rushing and making sure everything that goes in there makes me happy. My decorator friend Linda was here recently to help me a little because her house is real cottagy and she has an eye for that kind of design. I had dug out lots of things I found in storage or around the house to see if we could use what I already had. This was a gold frame that I put a little mirror in. I had some Oops paint in a deep turquoise that I base coated it in before glazing it with Ralph Lauren Tobacco. I'm really not sure I like it but here's what it looks like before the glazing...

...and here it is after glazing. I'm using the aqua/turquoise color as an accent so that's why we did it this color.

Now for the big news......THE BALLARD'S HEADBOARD WAS DELIVERED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's upholstered in creamy pintuck. I was afraid it would be too yellow-y with my white bedding but it works out beautifully. Here is how the delivery people left it, upside down, but you can see how pretty it is.

The bedroom and bathroom were painted Sandy Hook Gray last Friday and I've taken two euro shams to be monogrammed in a color similar to the wall color. I'm trying to talk hubby into letting me order plantation shutters for the windows and then using a billowy white drape over those. I have some beautiful linen fabric that I will use to sew a wide band at the bottom of the drapes to puddle on the floor and make a dust ruffle using a standard white dust ruffle adding the linen band at the bottom. In the bathroom there will be white shower curtain which I might have monogrammed, and fluffy white towels, and chunky white candlesticks with white candles. I'm planning on making a white roll up shade for the narrow window and will use white ribbon to roll/tie it up. Okay, by now, you know everything will be shades of white!!!!

I'm sure ya'll can't wait to see how this turns out (ha ha) and neither can I! If only there was more than 24 hours in the day, I might get all of this accomplished in the near future.

Now for some non-decorating news: We just booked our Mexican cruise for February 16, 2009! My sister and her husband are going with us and I can't wait. We are going to have so much fun.