Annie Get Your Gun...and other random musings

What a week last week was!   If you read my blog you will recall I asked for prayers for a precious family whose daughter had taken her life on Super Bowl Sunday.   She was a friend of my 11 year old granddaughter, they had played tee ball and softball together for several years.    The memorial was held this past weekend at the high school.   There are just no words to describe something this horrendous....I still can't take it in.   

I started having a stomach bug that Sunday night and into Monday.   Then on Tuesday my daughter called saying she and the baby were home sick.   I went to her house and she was literally lying on the floor burning up!   I took her to an Urgent Care as the doctor couldn't work her in until Thursday!   I knew she couldn't wait that long.    Oh, and did I mention the baby had been diagnosed with the flu on Monday!?    She did not test positive for flu or strep but the doctor put her on Tamiflu and an antibiotic anyway.    I went to her house Tuesday through Thursday and by then she was much, much better.    But I forgot how much work a little 13 month old baby is....he's constantly on the move!   I had to run to the store to get some groceries for her as she had not had a chance to go.    Thankfully her husband has not been sick (yet)!

My husband and I had planned on going out of town on Friday then onto our son's house for the weekend but I got up Friday morning with major headache and sore throat.    I got my doctor to call me in a prescription and I stayed in bed all weekend.

Yeah, it's been fun around here but I think we're all on the road to recovery, finally!

This may be a touchy subject for some of you and I don't want to post anything that will bring about conflict or disagreements.    I'm talking about gun ownership.    For years my husband has wanted me to get a small one for protection.    I'm terrified of guns and don't even like to look at them.    But some things have happened to me recently that have me giving consideration to owning one.

About a month ago I was at one of our local malls.   I had picked something up I'd ordered and was just browsing on my way out to my car.    All of a sudden I heard a man yelling very loud the word "B_____________" (fill in the blank).    He yelled it several times and I thought maybe a couple was having a big argument in the store.   When I turned to see what was going on I saw this huge guy yelling at the security cop!   The guy was taking clothes off the racks and throwing them at security....he even threw the metal rack at the security man!   I was scared to death!   I hightailed it out and as soon as I got in my car I called the police who said they had someone either there or on the way (I was so shook up I couldn't remember what they said).     I later found out the guy had been banned from coming to the mall but he came anyway.

The very next day I was in a drug store and heard a woman yelling!    She didn't curse but she was telling the pharmacist she was "tired of it" and just generally making a fool of herself.    When she went to check out she had a small package of toilet paper and was yelling at the manager that if he wouldn't take her coupon that wasn't "the end of it".....I really don't know what she was talking about but when I checked out the manager said she didn't want to follow rules.    I guess with this happening the day after the mall incident, it brought home to me how vulnerable we are when we are out and about going about our day and something like this can happen anywhere and any time.

Now I know neither one of these incidents is extremely bad but they were (and are) upsetting to me.   I now am having second thoughts on having something to protect myself in the event I find myself in a precarious situation.     I don't even know if I could use a gun.    I do know that if I go that route, I plan on taking a course in the proper use of handling a weapon and defending myself.

Do any of you have a gun?   Did you take a course and do you feel that helped?   

I don't want this post to evolve into a political discussion....I will just delete those comments as I have found you can't argue politics or religion with anyone.    I simply want to know how you would go about defending yourself if you are even in a situation that you would need to.

On a different note, I hope anyone in the path of the severe weather headed your way stays safe and warm.   I think we are only supposed to get some pretty heavy rains.    Spring can't get here soon enough for me!

Prayer Request

I had a post ready to go this morning but last night we got some devastating news right in the middle of watching the Super Bowl at my daughter's home.   A precious 14 year old girl, who had played on my granddaughter's softball team, unexpectedly took her own life.   At this point, no one knows why and I can't even imagine what her family is going through.     They were a very close family who doted on and loved their two girls.   

Please keep this precious family in your prayers.    

I'm On Instagram!

You'd think since I can't post regularly on this blog I wouldn't have time to get on any social media but I am really enjoying following some great accounts on Instagram.     A year or so ago my granddaughter set me up on Instagram but I never did much with it (you 'll see some of my earlier feeble attempts!).    I still don't post a lot on it but I'm hoping to post more often as it doesn't take as much time as my blog and gives instant 'gratification'!

Here are a few photos I've posted:

 Fall den

Son's backyard

Lake neighbors

 Grandson (in swing) and my sister's grandson (they are 1 year apart)

Starbucks with granddaughter

I'd love for you to follow me on Instagram....you can find me here.

Favorite Things - Beauty Edition

I hope everyone had a happy New Year!   We went out for Mexican, then home to watch the Alabama-Michigan game.    My son-in-law is a huge Alabama fan so needless to say, he's a happy camper.   So happy in fact that he and their next door neighbor immediately bought their tickets to Glendale, Arizona for the National Championship game.

We went to their house on  New Year's Day for lunch....my daughter and I served ham, black eye peas, mashed potatoes, english peas, potato salad, two kinds of corn bread, and sliced onion.     The baby (who turned 1 on December 21st) is now on table food and I had a ball feeding him.   He loved the ham, mashed potatoes and english peas!

Now it's back to healthier eating!

I've shared some of my favorite beauty products in the past and wanted to update it.    You may see some of my favorites I've previously mentioned but that's because I really love them and use them all the time.

For years I used Merle Norman makeup.    I used to buy it here in town but the owner moved so I had to go about 20 miles to find another Merle Norman store.    Sometimes it wasn't convenient for me to go that far so I experimented with other foundations.    The one I'm using now is probably my favorite of all other brands I've tried.

L'Oreal True Match.   It gives pretty decent coverage and is a great match to my skin.   I wear "warm".

I apply it with a sponge I get at Target.  It's the Sonia Kashuk foundation sponge....two come in a package for around $5.79!

I set my makeup with a neutralizing powder I discovered a few years ago on one of the home shopping networks.   It also helps with redness on the face.

I don't have a huge makeup routine but I like to stick with one that is tried and true and these are the products I use every day. 

I  also use  Merle Norman lasting cheek color in Dusty Rose.

Since I'm getting to a "certain age" my usual full eyebrows have started thinning.    I don't have to have my hairdresser pluck them anymore!    I don't like to have a harsh drawn on eyebrow so when I found this little eyebrow pencil it quickly became part of my makeup arsenal.

Milini Easy Brow in Natural Taupe

I also like to use a little illuminator around different areas of my face......down my nose, across the forehead and to highlight areas of my eyes.   I found this chart on Pinterest on how to use illuminator and it really helps know where to place it.

Before I put on my makeup I use this moisturizer.    It lasts forever and I really like it.

To remove my makeup at night I use these wet cleansing towelettes I get at Target.

 I also use baby oil to remove my eye makeup.   I rarely wear mascara anymore so taking off my eye makeup is easy. 

I've shared this product before but I thought it was worth mentioning again.   It's their Moroccan Infusion Dry Body Oil.   I squirt this on my legs and arms for a little healthy glow.  I also will squirt on some of the L'Oreal Magic Lumi on my shoulders and down my arms with the Dry Body Oil....makes your skin gorgeous!  

I know it's wintertime and we're not  thinking of looking tan right now, but it can't hurt to get a jump on a little color!   I have a couple of products that I've used that give a good, natural looking tan without being orange or streaky.   

Famous Dave's Self Tanning lotion is a good self tanner.   I always apply all my self tanners with a mitt that I buy at Ulta.  

Jergens Natural glow instant sun.   Right now this is my favorite of the two products.   I put a little moisturizer on my feet and then work my way up from my feet to my upper thigh area.   I don't have to use anything on my arms since they tan pretty easily....my legs not so much so I need all the help I can get on tanning my legs.   I NEVER use tanning beds at all (I have in the past but I know they are terrible for anyone to use).

A have a friend whose daughter has a little spray tan business in their media room.    I used her for the first time last summer for the 4th of July at the lake and it was the most natural looking spray tan I've ever received.....it lasted about 7 days too!    I'll get more spray tans from her this summer and found out the "tan" won't come off in a salt water pool which is what my son has.  

As far as my hair products, I don't use a lot.    My favorite hairspray is Kenra Professional Volume Spray.  

Sometime back I shared how I was looking for a new hairdresser.    You can read the original post here.    Basically, I was looking to change hairdressers after using the same one for a number of years.    When I wrote that post, I had just found someone I liked a lot but since I was "looking" I had another girl I wanted to try out before making a commitment to someone.    I liked the 2nd person better than the first one I changed to and she charges a little less too!     Believe it or not, I have one other person I'm considering for a haicut (not color) since a good friend of mine uses her and I know she can cut my hair in the style I want.    I just don't want to commit to one person like I did before until I'm sure I'm going to be happy!

A few years ago I wrote a post asking for suggestions on perfume.   For years I wore Beautiful by Estee Lauder but unfortunately my body chemistry doesn't work with that scent any longer.   I got some great suggestions but so far I haven't found anything that "speaks" to me.   I'm still looking and would love any suggestions you might have.

Well, I guess that about wraps up some of my favorite beautify products/tips.     I'd love to know if you try any of them and how you like them.    Also, please let me know your favorite products,  I always love hearing your recommendations.

Have you put your Christmas decorations away?    We got ours down and put away and my husband put away the floodlights today.      It feels good to have my house back in order!

Have a great week!

Happy New Year and A Year In Review

Well, 2015 is almost in the books and it has been a good year. There have been some times that I wasn't real happy about but I can honestly say "it was a very good year."

As I reflect back over 2015, I'd like to share a few thoughts. We started out (well really it started on 12/21/14) with our newest addition to the family....our 5th grandchild and 3rd grandson.

 

Weighing in a 9 lb. 4 oz. he was a big boy!   His big sister (shown above) has become his 2nd momma....she has been such a big help to her momma.    

And a year later at our family Christmas get together at the lake

 

January saw some good news and bad news:   Our son got a huge promotion but it meant they would be living further away from us.    For the past 10+ years they have lived in Birmingham which was only a little over an hour away but they would now be living about 3 hours away.    Of course, it could be a lot worse, like a plane ride away as he reminds me, but still....not as easy to visit like before.    They found a gorgeous home in a wonderful neighborhood with the perfect back yard...and the beach about 30 minutes away too!

This is the view from the 2nd den (yes they have 2!) the gazebo is fully fitted out with a great sound system and TV.....perfect for watching the kids in the pool and enjoying time outside .

My granddaughter said they will just have a stay-cation at their home....they have everything right in their own backyard!

February I had some fairly major surgery and the next few months were spent getting back on my feet.     

Early spring an old friend from school and I started putting the finishing touches on our class reunion that was to be held in May.    I won't say how many years but it's been a while!    I attended a very small private school and we only had about 25 in our graduating class.    I think 3 are deceased, some didn't attend the reunion, but the ones that did had a great time.    We combined our class with the class below us and the class above us so we had about 100 people there.    I know that sounds insane when some schools graduate upwards of 500 students that that wasn't the case for us.

That's me on the end in black and white....my friend that I worked on the reunion with is also in black and white!   It was a good thing we had name badges....that's all I'm going to say!   Funny coincidence....one of the guys is a local dentist that my daughter goes to!

Not much exciting happened during the summer.   We spent some time at the lake but most of our time was at home.    I spend a lot of time at my mom's nursing home with her, they play bingo 3 times a week and she wants me to play too.    Since she's been at the nursing home, a little over a year now, I've got to know a lot of the residents and they seem to expect me there too!    I help some of the residents that don't see well, don't hear well, and some that just don't have the capacity anymore to know their numbers and/or letters.    It's very humbling to me and honestly I can say they do more for me than I could ever do for them.    When she's not playing bingo, we sit outside on the huge porch or in the "living room" as momma calls it and she shares about old times and people that have passed in and out of her life.    She will be 96 in June and I treasure every single moment with her.   But don't let her age fool you....she is very much in the present and knows exactly what is going on!    In fact, when I have my monthly meeting with her social worker and/or nurse, they just laugh and say sign the sheet of paper showing she has nothing wrong with her that needs attention.

Of course, fall bring football season.   I can't say it was our best year but I love my Auburn Tigers!

Soon enough it was Thanksgiving.    My ex-mother in law passed away the day before Thanksgiving.    There is a long story of our relationship but its not worth going into.   Suffice it to say that I made my peace with her a while back and last summer at the twins' birthday party my former husband brought her.    Strangely enough she spent most of the day with me talking and recalling old times!    I wasn't sure what to expect when I went to her funeral but I really felt like I needed to go.    I saw some folks I hadn't seen in 30 years and it was closure for me with some of them that welcomed me with hugs and open arms.    Our divorce was very nasty (thankfully my ex and I get along great now) so I didn't know what to expect but I'm glad I went.    My ex recently told me he was glad I came.

We had our annual family Christmas get together at the lake.   

My grandson (in white and red) and my sister's grandson in red shirt and jeans....can you believe these two are a year apart?   My sister's grandson will be 2 on January 4th and Ryder was 1 on December 21st!   But they had a big time playing....this summer they will have a lot of fun at the lake!

This wasn't at the lake but at Ryder's birthday party....he is a carbon copy of his daddy!

We had a low key Christmas.   Christmas Day my sister and her husband met my husband and I at the nursing home to spend time with our mom.    Then we 4 went to Waffle House for supper!    How classy can you get (LOL)!   They're going back to Hawaii in October and invited us to go but we don't have Hawaii on our bucket list.....we haven't made up our minds whether or not we'll go.    We usually take a tropical vacation in February since my husband owns a landscape business and it's hard for him to get away from spring to winter....thus we go somewhere warm in the dead of winter!    

Yesterday my granddaughter Taylor and I had one of our "special days" together.....I'll take all I can get since she's 11 going on 15 and the time will get here soon enough that it's not "cool" to hang with Mimi!    We went to a movie then Starbucks for hot chocolate.    She had a gift card I had given her and she wanted to use it to buy her own drink.    She had another gift card to Zaxby's so she wanted to go there and get lunch.    I offered to buy her hot chocolate and lunch but she wanted to use her cards.      After I took her back to her mom's office, she told me she had one of the best days ever.    Now that my friends is priceless!

 

Well, I can't believe there were no decorating posts mentioned.   Maybe that's because nothing much got done.    I shared earlier this fall that the hall bathroom and one guestroom were getting done.....that's still on hold as I'm undecided on bathroom paint color and waiting on our handyman to put up a plank wall in the guest room.    I really hope both of those projects get done soon!

As 2015 draws to a close, I realize how blessed and thankful I am.    I have a wonderful husband, good kids who have great spouses and kids, and my 95 year old mom.     I have everything I need (my husband says I don't have everything I "want" - LOL) but really, I count my blessings every day.    

I also want to than everyone that visits my blog, although this year I have blogged much, much less than in the almost 8 years I've blogged!    I can't promise that 2016 will be better but I hope I can get back to blogging on a more regular basis.

Hope you all have a safe and happy New Year!

It's A Christmas Miracle!

Yes, it's a miracle that I'm getting a post up at last!    I got a new laptop back in September and have had nothing but problems with it ever since......a large part of the reason I haven't been able to blog.

I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving 2015

Hope you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving Day with your family, friends and loved ones!    

A Few Fall Touches Around the House

I love fall!   I think it's one of the most gorgeous times of the year.   Of course, I will probably say that about Spring too!    I don't go "all out" with any of my seasonal decorating anymore but use pretty much the same things every year now.     I used to be a "more is more" kinda girl but each year I find the "less is more" philosophy works better for me now.

With that being said, I'm happy to share some fall touches around my house.    We'll start in the sunroom.    I don't know why I don't share this room, because it's one of my favorite rooms in the house.    It has been a "holding zone" for holdovers from my mom's house when we moved her to assisted living, then from assisted living to a nursing home.    But I'm slowing working my way through either storing or disposing of them.

I ordered this colorful, soft throw from Amazon of all places.   The pillow is from Society 6 she has some beautiful things in her Etsy shop.    I have my eye on several items for the upcoming holiday season.      When the throw arrived, I loved how it looked with the pillow.

Can we talk a minute about my thrift store wicker trunk?   It was priced at $25 (which I would have gladly paid) but asked the shop owner if she'd take $20 and to my surprise she did!   Right now it's storing extra throw pillows and a blanket.   It was in near perfect condition and had no musty smell.    I really wanted to use it and the end of our sofa in the den for a place to put a drink or remote control but according to my husband it was too big (and it really was) so I put it here in the sunroom for a coffee table.    I love it in here!

 

A few years ago I decided to paint a faux pumpkin turquoise since I use that as an accent color in a couple of rooms in the house.    It got a lot of attention!    Here in the sunroom I just put it on the distressed little table next to the leather chair.

My daughter was telling me she heard that if you put a turquoise pumpkin outside your door for trick or treaters it will let the parents/kids know  that you are handing out non-food treats in recognition of food allergies.   Here's an interesting article about it.    Good to know.

I've been busy working on cleaning up areas outside....pressure washing mainly.    Our deck is in sad shape and my husband wants to tear it out and replace it but I don't know when that will happen.     So I just pressure washed the patio outside the sunroom and a small area outside the laundry room.     I'm hoping Thanksgiving day will be nice and sunny so some of us can eat outside....you just never know here in the South what it's going to do this time of the year.    So I'm trying to keep it simple outside with just a few things.

I spray painted an old urn I had flat black and set it on top of this old capital (capitol?).....I used a berry wreath and a white spray painted faux pumpkin.    I love how easy this was.   

 (I should have pressure washed the capital....it's been outside for over 20 years and it needs a "bath"!)

The pumpkin isn't that glaring white....I didn't notice how bright it looked until I downloaded these photos....it must have been the glare from the sun.    Kinda ghostly looking!!

Last year I saw these pillows on another blog (don't remember which one) where you spray painted your design on burlap.    I got a leaf and pumpkin felt thingies at the Dollar Tree.   I just placed them down on my burlap and sprayed all around them with orange spray paint.     Then my sewing machine broke and I didn't finish making them until this past fall when I decided to get the machine fixed.   

In the den I always do the same thing on my mantel....I didn't replace anything but worked around what stays up there year round.    That way I don't have to remember where I put the things I removed or how it looked (LOL)!    I just added the fall garland and the burlap "Fall" banner I made a few years ago and some white twinkle lights.  

As far as the galvanized bucket, I just used some things I pulled out of my fall bins that I didn't know what to do with.    (BTW, I have waaaay too much fall stuff, don't use but about 1/3rd of it....I keep telling myself I'm going to edit and get rid of the majority of it but so far I haven't done that).     So before packing it all back up I decided to use some "leftovers" in the bucket.    I placed a cardboard box in the bottom to elevate everything and just wrapped the garlands around the outside, then filled in with the two pumpkins and some other branches and things.    I love how it turned out!

On the coffee table I used a candle ring on top of an urn and added a silver pumpkin.    I added a little orange pumpkin too....I like how the orange and turquoise look together.    You can see how I made over this old wooden tray here by adding the typewriter burlap fabric.  (Please ignore the fan in the next room....it's still hot here people!)

On the sideboard behind the sofa I just used a boxwood wreath with a ceremic pumpkin..

Next time I'll share the kitchen and dining room.    

Hope everyone has a safe Halloween and DON'T FORGET TO TURN BACK YOUR CLOCKS TONIGHT!

A Hodgepodge of Stuff!

Hello? Anyone still out there? I think it's pretty obvious that this blog is way down the list of priorities at this season of my life. I won't bore you with the same old excuses, suffice it to say that I spend a lot of time with my 95 year old mom at her nursing home, as well as family here and out of town. I have good intentions to post more often, just doesn't seem to happen.

Moving on.....last January my son received an awesome job promotion but he had to take it right away. It was with his same company but it meant moving from Birmingham (which was a little over a hour away from our home) to the Daphne/Spanish Fort area, about 3 hours away! BUT he could not pass up the opportunity so they moved. Let me state here that I couldn't be any more proud of him. He works hard and deserves all the accolades he's getting. They bought a beautiful home with wonderful landscaping and a pool! Plus they are only about 45 minutes from the beach....doesn't get any better than that now does it?

Here are a few photos I took back in August when we went down for our grandchildrens' joint birthdays. They are 5 years and 5 days apart so so far, my DIL has just had a joint birthday party for them. I imagine that will quickly come to an end soon as my granddaughter will be 11 next summer and won't want her little brother "bothering the big girls"....at least that's what she told me!

 Here's my little grandson "posing" in front of his baby picture.   He's so silly!
(#hurryuptakingmypicture #fakesmile #iwanttogoplay!)

Their backyard is spectacular!   The house belonged to a doctor and they had extensive landscaping put in as they hosted a backyard wedding.   This is looking out from inside toward the gazebo.   It has a TV, ceiling fan, and a sound system....we really loved sitting out here at night and watching the kids swim.

My daughter in law has done a great job getting the house unpacked and set up.   She and I are working on ideas for the den and my grandson's room.   My son has put her on a "budget" but I think that will have to change (LOL)!   But I have to give my daughter in law credit, she's really trying to stick with it, within reason.    We'll see how that turns out!    We're planning on giving them a housewarming gift so that can hopefully get her started on her vision.

We are hosting Thanksgiving here at our house this year and my husband knows I want to re-do his bathroom before then.    I'm going back and forth on the wall color....something white but not stark white.    I'd love to have plank walls in there but that ain't happening!    So I'm going to use beadboard wallpaper instead.   Basically, I want a farmhouse feel to it.    It's been the same color for almost 10 years now, which is a miracle!    Here are some of my inspiration photos from my Pinterest board:

(source)

What's not to love about this bathroom (above).   If I could start from scratch, I'd try and duplicate this room....love the sink!

(source)

This bathroom belongs to my sweet friend Diana at Our Vintage Home Love.   She is crazy talented.  

(source)

The vanity in the bathroom is wood stained with a marble top.   It's pretty scratched up so I plan on painting it a pretty gray.....something similar to this one.

 (source)

I think out of all the photos I have pinned, this one is my favorite.   See those plank walls?    Love!    She gives the paint colors and I've got samples of them.    My bathroom mirror is almost identical to this one.   I even ordered the same light fixture.    But then the question is what to do about the vanity?   If I paint the beadboard wall white and the other 3 walls in the light gray, what do I do about the vanity?   I don't want it to be the same color as the gray wall.  Do I paint it a darker gray or what?  I have two different "shower" curtains to consider.    I don't use shower curtains, but full length curtains as that gives me more of a choice and the length I like.    I have a pretty gray linen and a solid white....not sure which one I'll use.

The other room on my to do list is my daughter's old bedroom.   I will get a plank wall in there....behind the bed.   I've ordered a gray upholstered headboard and the whole room will be a pretty white color.    Again, using whites and grays in there to tie in with the bathroom which is right next to the bedroom.

The other night my husband surprised me by saying he'd talked with our handy man and asked him to come by as soon as he could so that he could start work on the guest room.     He wants me to show the guy what I want so that we can get started on the planks.   I don't expect to have both rooms done by Thanksgiving but I'm so happy that it will get done sooner than later.    At least the bathroom will be done....fingers crossed!

Well, that about wraps it up for now.    Oh, one more thing.    If you read my blog you know that my daughter has 11 year old boy/girl twins.    Then last December they had a little "surprise"....another little boy!   We're having such a good time having another little baby in the family.    He's getting so big and is just about to walk.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Taylor and her baby brother taken at the hospital after he was born....she is such a good little helper

And now 10 months later.....

#ilovemybrother #ilovebeingabigsister #ilookjustlikemydaddy

Hope you all have a wonderful week!