You've Been "Framed"

After I posted about my daughter's blog (below) I took a picture of something I "whipped" up this past week. I was in Big Lots and found these darling square black frames for $4.00 each. I bought three but I think I'm going back and buy them all...they will make great gifts (if I don't keep them for myself)! I love picture frames and there are some pretty ones on the market, also very pricey. Anyway, I've seen a lot of framed monogramms on other sites and I thought I'd try my hand to see what I could come up with. I did mine and my husband's initials and framed them. I'm going to get some really pretty paper to print our initials on and frame but I did this just to see how it would turn out. What do you think?

Welcome New Blogger (a/k/a Sweet Daughter)!

I know that your kids (grown up kids included) don't have to tell you everything, but I just found out my sweet daughter has started a blog. It's called mommy2twins and I'd love for ya'll to check it out (especially all the mommies out there with little ones) and welcome her. She only has one little post right now but I'm excited that she has started a blog. I guess I've talked her ear off talking about how much fun it is having mine.

On another note, I've been MIA this past week (as far as blogging goes). I finally finished the day bed I've been working on....it looks great and I'll be posting pics of it in the next few days. Also working diligently on getting Taylor's furniture ready for her big girl room.

Finally, my job has just got a lot better. I had been working four 6 hour days (off on Fridays) on two different jobs (2 at one job, 2 at another). Last week I gave notice at one of my 2 day jobs (suffice it to say that I worked with a real you-know-what--- and I don't have to put up with that) so now I work Tuesday-Thursday for my sweet little attorney guy... that mean's I'm off Friday through Monday! I'm hoping to get a lot of projects finished and devote more time to my little booth at an antique mall.

Don't forget to check out Mommy2twins!

Life Lessons

These stories/poems have touched me and I love reading them. I hope you enjoy them as well.

I have always admired the Rev. Billy Graham. Part of it is because we are distantly related. His great-grandfather and my mother's great-grandfather were brothers. Billy Graham has suffered from Parkinson's disease for the last few years. Here is a touching story about him.

In January 2000 the leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor.

Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with his Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders told him they just wanted him to come so they could honor him.

After many wonderful things were said about Dr. Graham at the luncheon, Dr. Graham stepped up to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said:

I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat behind him. He still couldn't find it.

The conductor said "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it."

Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle, punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physician on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

The conductor rushed back and said, "Dr. Einstein, don't worry. I know who you are, no problem, you don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one."

Einstein looked at him and said "Young man, I too know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going."

Having said that, Billy Graham continued. "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My family has told me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what the occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this: I NOT ONLY KNOW WHO I AM, I ALSO KNOW WHERE I'M GOING."

We all know who we are, but do we know where we're going?

IT'S IN THE VALLEYS I GROW

Sometimes life seems hard to bear, full of sorrow, trouble and woe, it's then I have to remember, that it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top, and never experienced pain, I would never appreciate God's love, and would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn, and my growth is very slow, sometimes I need the mountain tops, but it's in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand why things happen as they do, but I am very sure of one thing, My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing, when I picture Christ on the cross, He went through the valley of death, His victory was Satan's loss!

Forgive me Lord for complaining when I'm feeling so very low, just give me a gentle reminder, that it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord, and use my life each day, to share your love with others, and help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord, for this one thing I know, the mountain tops are glorious, but it's in the valleys I grow!

(Poem by Jane Eggleston)

This poem by Maya Angelou has nothing whatsoever to do with Easter but it's a good reminder of what a woman should "have" or "know"....

MAYA ANGELOU'S BEST POEM EVER:

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE....
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a youth she's content to leave behind...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE....
one friend who always makes her laugh...and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a receipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a feeling of control over her destiny...

A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

HOW TO QUIT A JOB,

BREAK UP WITH A LOVER,


AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP...


EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder...and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone...even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
where to go....be it to her best friend's kitchen table, or a charming inn in the woods, when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year....

American Idol

(Click the arrow twice to activate)

We picked the twins up today from day care so their mama and daddy could go out. They were tired and fussy so to entertain them I turned on the video on my camera (I've never used the video before so this is new for me). Of course, the Princess had to show off her singing ability.....please enjoy her version of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "ABC's". (Check out the "Elvis" glasses) Pop is her biggest fan! (I didn't know we sounded so "country")

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Do ya'll remember the show Art Linkletter had called "Kids Say The Darndest Things?" He would have little kids on his show and he'd ask them real simple stuff and they would ALWAYS embarrass their parents. No way would I have EVER put MY kids on that show! I think Bill Cosby did a re-make of that show a few years ago and it was a hoot!

Here's Miss Ta-Ta and Little Man in front of the house last Halloween.
(Note her Auburn hair ribbon and his Alabama shirt!)

I wanted to share a few things Princess Taylor said lately. Now I don't have the time or space to put down everything she says cause she has motor mouth. Here's some examples of "Taylor talk."

We were eating at my daughter's house (Taylor's mom) last week and I was drinking a diet Mt. Dew. She said "MiMi, what's dat?" I said Mt. Dew. She said I want some Mt. Dude! Now she asks me to bring her some Mt. Dude!

Last night we went to see the twins. She and her twin brother are always digging around in my purse for stuff they KNOW they aren't supposed to have. She came running over to me and said "MiMi, I want the caterpiller." After asking her a few times about the caterpiller, I realized she was wanting the "calculator."

Okay, one more....stay with me now....

We were eating at daughter's another time (yeah, we eat with them a lot) and Shannon had cooked some kind of Paula Deen mexican feast. She put salsa, sour creme, onions, tomatos, the works on the table to serve with the meal. When Shannon opened the carton of sour creme, Taylor said "Mama, that's hiney creme!" (That's what the twins called "butt creme" - hiney creme). Think about it, it's white and pasty looking like the ole' butt creme. Shannon said no, baby, that's sour creme - to which Taylor replied "I not like it."

Like I say, out of the mouths of babes......

HAVE A BABE-A-LICIOUS THURSDAY!

Easter Vingettes and Bookcase Update

Kari and Kijsa are hosting a Spring Blessings and everyone is invited to participate. Please enjoy a few of my Easter vingettes around the house.

I picked up a few more Bordello plates and bowls in Birmingham this past weekend to add to my collection. This is a little vingette on my marble top table in the kitchen.

Place setting in the kitchen

Chocolate 'faux' bunny from Big Lots for $1.00! I got all they had (he-he)

Kitchen counter (the photo is of darling son, sweet daughter and me taken at the beach a few years ago)

I recently posted about my Savannah inspired place settings for the dining room. I've added a centerpiece on the table of various items on an old tarnished silver tray.

The walls are a golden color faux finished with a brown glaze (they look washed out here)

I even like the "backside" of the centerpiece (but not the Target bag hanging on the door - oops!)

Now for an update on the bookcase project I've been working on for my office re-do.

This is what it looked like after I painted it and lined it with the scrapbook paper.

It's now behind my desk. Although some of the photos don't show the wall color well, they are a deep chocolate brown.You can click on any picture to enlarge it.

I think this tray is perfect over the bookcase!

I hope to get the daybed painted in the next few days so I can get the office finished. Then off to another "project"!

Snow!

Here in Alabama it's not very common to get snow...especially after the 70+ weather we've been having. Last night snow was predicted in the northern part of the state and as far down as central Alabama. I had gone to Birmingham to spend the night with my son and his family to babysit and when I woke up this morning....here's what I saw. Now for you ladies that see the white stuff most of the winter, this is "old hat" but for us this far south, it's a real treat (even if it's not much and doesn't stick around very long).

Looking out across the street from the front porch

Sidewalk in front of son's house

View from back deck

By 10:00 a.m. most of the snow had melted away. I was glad cause I was a little worried about driving home.

Hope ya'll are having a great weekend!

Pink, Pink and more Pink!

Last weekend Shannon and I finally finished painting the stripes in Taylor's big girl room. What a job! When we first started this project last October we had to put three coats of base coat on the walls because the builder had used flat paint. After we got the base coat on, we measured for the stripes and taped off. We got two walls done before we pooped out for the day. We kept putting off finishing up but she pushed to get it done so we are now officially through painting. Next will come the furniture and then fluffing and decorating!

I wish I could get a picture of the whole room instead of just a little bit at a time because it really does look great.

She took a Victoria's Secret bag to the paint store and they matched the two pinks perfectly.

Each stripe measures 15 inches

She got a hot pink shag rug for the middle of the room. (Don't know why the color is off here).

All the furniture will be painted and distressed black. We are using my four poster bed from when I was a little girl, a french style dresser and a nightstand. She has a pink crystal chandelier to hang down over the nightstand for a little bling! Curtain rod will be black with pink tab top curtains.

Around the House

Do you recognize this table setting? In Savannah we went in The Paris Market where they had used brown kraft paper for "placemats" and had these wonderful little bird's nest with quail eggs on green plates. I bought some of the bird's nests and quail eggs, found some Bordello plates (at Ross) that I've been wanting, and made my own "tablescape." I bought a roll of the brown kraft paper, cut it to the size I wanted then just scorched the ends until I had a shape I liked. Simple and easy (my kind of project)! This is the beginning of my Easter tablescape and I think it turned out pretty neat.

Kitchen table

In the kitchen I used what I had....round woven charges with a mixture of solid green plates and some green and white toile plates with a little faux chocolate bunny placed in the middle. For the centerpiece - an apocothary jar, a cute green bunny (I tied a brown satin ribbon around his neck) and some books.

I've also been working on converting the office/nursury/junk room into more of an office/grandchildren's room. The baby bed we have converts to a day bed and instead of buying a day bed to replace the baby bed, hubby suggested I paint the bed and use it (it was originally white). First I painted the bed black.....it looked pretty good. Then I found a new paint color that I fell in love with by Krylon called "Ivy Leaf". It looks a lot like the green color used in the Ballards catalog so I decided to paint over the black with the green. I have brown glazed walls with a leopard boarded area run and that color green looks great with brown (and black). OMG what a mess! The paint started bubbling up. I finally took it to a professional furniture stripper who said he would not touch it because the bed came from the factory with a baked on finish and it probably would buckle if I tried to strip it. Soooo, on to my favorite paint store, who sold me $50+ worth of stripper, sandpaper, steel wool, and said I had "my work cut out for me." Well, long story short, I finally got some green paint on the bed and it STILL bubbled up in places! I haven't even started on the main portion of the bed so I'm praying for patience and success!

Here the finish looks smooth as a baby's butt!

Don't you love this color? I do!

This was an old ugly bookcase that I sprayed black and lined with some black and creme paper I got at Hobby Lobby (another blogger did this - sorry I can't remember who - and I thought it was a great idea). This is going in the office as well.

Keep your fingers crossed that the baby bed/day bed project doesn't have me pulling my hair out before it's finished or that baby bed might just end up on the street!

Mammogram

Today I had my annual mammogram and all is well! A few years ago I had some cysts. It was no fun waiting to get that treated. Fortunately, since then, my yearly checkups have been "good". It can be scary sitting in that little cubby they put you in waiting to see if they need another picture or if they come in and say "everything looks great, see you next year!"

4 IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MAMMOGRAMS

1. They can save your life. Finding breast cancer early reduces your risk of dying from the disease by 20-30%. Women should begin having mammograms yearly at age 40 or earlier if they're at high risk.



2. Don't be afraid. It's a fast procedure (about 5-10 minutes) and discomfort is minimal. The procedure is safe; there's only a very tiny amount of radiation exposure from a mammogram. To relieve the anxiety of waiting for results, go to a center that will give you results before you leave.



3. Get the best quality you can.

a. If you have dense breasts or are under age 50, try to get a digital mammogram.



b. Bring your old mammogram films with you for comparison.



c. Have more than one radiologist read your study.



d. Ask if your center has CAD - computer aided detection - which calls the radiologist's attention to any possible areas of concern.



e. Make sure the doctor who referred you for the mammogram includes an explicit note when ordering the study (providing clinical correlations - e.g. "palpable mass in the upper outer quadrant, rule out abnormality.")


f. Correlate your results with other tests you've had done; like ultrasound or MRI.




g. Discuss your family history of breast or other cancers - from both your mother's AND father's side - with your doctor.

4. It is our most powerful breast cancer detection tool. However, mammograms can still miss 15-20% of breast cancers that are simply not visible using this technique. Other important tools - such as breast self-exam, clinical breast exams, ultrasound and MRI - can and should be used as complementary tools, but there are no substitutions or replacements for mammograms.

WHEN TO GET A MAMMOGRAM

There's a lot of confusion about when and how often to get a mammogram. For now, the recommendation is that women get a mammogram once a year, beginning at age 40. If you're at high risk for breast cancer, with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or have had radiation treatment to the chest in the past, it's recommended that you start having annual mammograms at a younger age (often beginning around age 30). This, however, is something that you should discuss with your healthcare provider.

(above courtesy of breastcancer.org website)