Pink and Yellow Bridal Shower for my new Daughter-n-law

I still can't believe it...I have a new hat to wear....a Mother-n-law hat! 

One down, two to go. 

I have to say I was a bit nervous, I had never done this before but it was so much fun putting together this little party! 

The Maid of Honor did a great job of hosting this quaint bridal event, I just volunteered our home and planned the party design and details. So much fun! I want to do it again!

 

My new daughter-n-law choose the perfect colors for Spring...Pink and yellow.  Those two colors should be one word.  It's just natural that they go together.  The Maid of Honor purchased most of the paper goods bringing me solid pink plates and forks to work with along with softer pink napkins that matched her tablecloth, shown below where the strawberries made their home for the day.   I ordered the straws from Etsy, I wish I could remember where I got them from but it's been a few months ago and to be honest, sometimes my memory's just not that good.  Of course, we could not put this pink and yellow bridal shower together with out pink Tulips...one of mine and her favorite flowers.  A separate drink table was sat up in another part of the room to house a few more drinks and help keep the traffic flow going. 

 

This particular weekend my Mom was in town which I was so thankful for.  She helped prepare these delicious appetizers to help make a bountiful setting. Boy, was she ever in her element!  She just loves making those cute little things!

 

Then there's the cake....a wedding dress cake!

My new daughter-n-law saw this super adorable cake made from cupcakes on every one's favorite website...Pinterest.  I took a picture of one to our bakery and ask if they could make it...they had never seen one done before but as you can see it turned out really cute

 

 

What a perfect day!  We had a great turn out, the weather was beautiful and she received lots of very nice gifts to help get their new life together going.

 

 

 



Puppy adoption

After a very long break from blogging, (more on that later) I'de like to introduce you to our newest family member. 

This is Bently. He's a little bitty Maltese with the most adorable personality.  I've always said that I would never have another dog but, the truth is...I just couldn't pass him up. We actually adopted him from my daughter.  She thought it was the right time in her life for a puppy...well...she's at the ripe age of 22.  Need I say more.  She did love him to pieces but realized it wasn't fair to the puppy for her to be gone as much as she was so guess who stepped in for the rescue?  Yep, me!
I'm sure you'll be hearing more on him later.  He's too cute not to talk about, but for now, he's begging for my attention so until next time... Have a good night!

Family, Friends and VIP's

 Here it is Monday and only three more days til Thanksgiving.

A couple of days ago I landed in Austin, Texas to visit my daughter and my sister and family. I'm so thankful  for a good and safe trip here as well as the time that I get to spend with my family. 

Right away they had plans to get this visit going on a fun track.  We were invited to a party at Bob's Steakhouse downtown Austin.  I was told I needed to be dressed and ready to go as soon as I got off the plane...I about died.  I was prepared for the opposite.  I like to travel very comfortably...workout pants, tee-shirt and tenny shoes.  But this time was different...I did my best and then changed mostly in the car.  Can you imagine?  No, it really wasn't that bad. I was mostly ready so it worked out ok. 

 After picking my daughter up, we were off to the party.

This party was on the roof top patio...So amazing!  All around was tall sky scrapers with fabulous outdoor furniture and fire pits for each seating area.  The atmospher was perfect!

As the night progressed a few VIP's arrived.   Some of which were friends with the people who invited us.  Let me tell you who I got to meet....Drum roll please!  Ok, maybe that's a bit much.  But, the Governer of Texas, Rick Perry and his wife, Anita Perry were there and I got to meet Anita!  Such a beautiful lady and so very nice!  And then, guess who showed up?  Clay Walker!  I met and shook his hand...very nice guy!  He sang at the Formula 1 race on Sunday so I'm guessing that's why he was in town.  That was another exciting thing going on this weekend here...the race.  Their first race was a huge success! Go Texas!

So that leads to today.

My niece is coming home from college and we'll have dinner at PF Changs and call it a night.

With only three more days til Thanksgiving, I wish you all a blessed and happy pre- Thanksgiving!



For Everything A Season

Today, I posted the picture below on my personal facebook page. I wasn't sure the reactions that I would get but one comment I got was "it's not even Thanksgiving yet". Two things...Christmas is  my favorite time of the year.   I always start decorating for it around November 1.  First my largest tree gets dressed, then I start working throughout the month to put everything else up so that it's all done by the day after Thanksgiving. My thinking is, now I can really enjoy the Christmas season and not have the stress of decorating on top of shopping, wrapping, cooking and everything else that comes with this time of the year. The other thing is, I'll be traveling in and out during this time, so my home time is limited. I'm thinking...the pressure of all of that combined would totally be too much for me to handle and do it all in the few weeks before Christmas if I wait til after Thanksgiving. (now I'm whining) 

But that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

Have you ever really thought about seasons? How they are arranged in just the right order. They are planned out so that each one sets the stage for the next one. I'm no farmer (just so you know) and I'm sure that there are different times to plow and plant for every kind of seed. But just to express my point, think about it this way...There's a time for plowing...Winter's end. A time for planting...Spring. A time for watering...Summer and a time for harvest...Fall.

So it is in our lives.

Each season prepares us for the next. It's what we do in each one of these seasons that puts us where we want to be in the final one. We want to make sure we do the right thing and keep a positive attitude with our eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel and in due season we will reap our harvest!

 This weekend I had a conversation with my eldest son about his job and what's going on in his life.  He explained to me that he was ready for added responsibility with his job but he's questioning whether his bosses will think he's ready for more right now.  My advise to him was to wait. 

• Wait for the right time and in the mean time keep doing what your suppose to be doing and prepare your proposal to them . (Now he's plowing.)
•  Present the proposal to them.  (Here he's planting the seeds.)
• Continue to do your job the best you can.  (He must water his seeds here)
• The final season...your harvest.  If you've done all that's right and kept your attitude good, you will see your harvest come to fruition.

My inspiration for this post comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  "There is a time for everything."

 

The seasons in our lives may not end up being a two month period or even a three month period.  Some may be shorter, some may be longer.  But always remember,  For everything there is a season.  

 

Two Leaves in a Cup and Being Thankful

I brought out my delicate white coffee cups that have 2 leaves positioned just inside the rim of the cup which is what I love most about these cups. It just adds a little bit more personality, I think. 



 With Fall upon us, these made the perfect setting for a quite morning breakfast.
 

Speaking of Fall, Thanksgiving is almost here, can you believe it? Sometimes I think this season gets skipped over really quickly. Take me for instance...I have always loved decorating for Christmas and I usually begin getting my trees out and start decorating the inside of the house around November first.  That way it's all done by the day after Thanksgiving and I can focus on shopping and enjoying the Christmas season.

 



 

But last night, I had to pause and take time to be thankful. Sometimes we I get so involved with day to day activities that being thankful takes a back seat. Maybe I should say it this way instead, while I am thankful, I don't verbalize it enough. And last night I became a little sentimental about the people in my life. 

You may not know that I work for a non-profit organization and am one of the managers there. Any-hoo, We had our annual volunteer appreciation dinner and it made me slow down enough to think. I remember almost five years ago when I took this job as a manager I knew nothing...I mean nothing about being a manager. So I read and read to see how I could be a really good one. I remember reading that when someone compliments you on how nice your store is, that you should always tell them that it's a group effort on every ones part. I thought yep, that's a good idea. The longer I stayed in this position the more that advise became a reality. I really do love and appreciate my staff and our volunteers are amazing people and if it weren't for them, we could not and would not be what we are today.



 

Having said all that, I think it's great to have a season that reminds us to be thankful but I hope that I for one, don't forget to be thankful everyday through out the year.

Hope you have a great weekend!

 



Dressing Table or Maybe a Desk?

This weekend turned out to be the best weekend we've had so far this Fall.  The weather has been perfect which made it great to be outside working on refreshing a couple of furniture pieces like the one below.

  I've been trying to figure out how to balance my life with my new love of revitalizing furniture.  First there's work, then home life, dog, dinner, house, emails, pinterest...pinterest and pinterest.  Yep I'm addicted, and my blog just to name a few things that require my time.

  Maybe I'll figure it out one day. It's a good thing I'm an empty nester these days, I'd be up a creek if I had kids to take care of now. Something would have to give.  

I found each of these vintage furniture pieces at three different thrift stores. I knew the look I wanted to achieve so I held out until I found the ones I wanted. First came the table or maybe the chair, can't really remember, I've had them a while. Anyway then I found the mirror.  The shape of the table peeked my interest in the beginning and I was thinking...hall table?  But then as I began to really think about it, I thought it would be a darling dressing table, so that's the direction I went in.  However, if one needed a little writing desk, this would serve great as that too.

 

 

 Backtracking a little bit, the drawer pulls in the first photo give the table a definite personality which I love. I thought they were a perfect fit as well as the fabric. Then distressing... I just love that part! Just enough to make each furniture piece look a bit tattered and like it has been well loved.

I looked and looked for a mirror and this one caught my eye. I was afraid it was a little too small but it turned out to be a great size for this vignette.

 

 I'm so pleased with how it all turned out.
 Now, let's see what else I can get my little hands on.
 

I've created a project page so as I get more, you'll be able to take a peek here  

Have a great day!



Your Server Will Be With You In a Moment

 

 

 Wouldn't it be nice if we could be served in the comfort of our own home?  Yeah, now that I think about it, I could get use to that idea.  

OK, back to reality...

The other day, I was playing around with these Fall colored dishes and thought I would share them with you.

 

I imagine a piece of pecan pie and a cup of coffee would be fantastic with this setting.  Can you tell I'm starting to think about Thanksgiving?

There's one thing about Fall, there are so many natural elements you can use for decoration if you walk around outside. Natures very good to us!

Hope your day has been great!

Tammy



Traditional Invites Non Traditional

 

 When Fall comes around all those warm and fuzzy colors start popping up everywhere.

Usually one brings out all of the browns, golds, oranges. 

 This year a new color has been introduced to our Fall decor... Turquoise!

 I started seeing pumpkins all dressed up in white and some in black and this year people are getting more and more creative with their pumpkins and I love it.  So, since I'm loving turquoise and teal right now, they were invited to join our traditional Fall front porch.

 Speaking of dressed up pumpkins, (I just noticed that my writing is crooked on this photo, oops), I decided our new turquoise pumpkins needed to dress for the occasion and strut our house numbers on each one of their fronts.  These were added after I spray painted the pumpkins.  They look like furniture tacks but they weren't called that on the package.  However, right at this moment, I can't remember what they're called.  Anyway I attached them with straight pins and set each one on a bed of Fall leaves and a 3 tier plant stand that I had to paint. I saw similar ones on Pinterest and loved them so I had to try and do something close.

 

Next...the door wreath.  I'm not sure this can be called a wreath.  Anyhow, this is a project I wish my Mom could have been here to do for me.  She's so good at flower arrangements. 

 And my most favorite part of the whole porch...

this bird!

Isn't he beautiful? 

He came from Pier One.  I actually saw him first and didn't know how I could use him so I left and went to Hobby Lobby where I found the florals at 1/2 off.  Then I knew what I would do with the gorgeous bird so I went back to Pier One and now he's mine!  I love his super long feathers, so ruffly and blue!

 It's been fun adding colors to our Fall decor this year.  You know what happens now?  I have to add other turquoise and teal inside the house...right.  (Snowball effect)

Have a great day!



Wrap Me Up

Eating for one

So many times when I'm home alone, I don't eat the way I should. It seems easier just to grab something that's in a bag and go do what I normally do. Or, grab something from a fast food place and call it a meal instead of planning what to cook for dinner and then fixing it. Well, it's time to change that.

Tonight I had a Chicken Salad Wrap with a glass of Cran-apple juice. It kinda sounds more like lunch but it's a simple recipe to make, it doesn't take much time to put it together and somewhat of a healthy choice.

Our cook at work made one for me the other day and I swear she put a magic ingredient in it. But she says nope, it's just a simple little recipe. I loved it so much I borrowed it.

 

mmm...

 

So if your swinging it alone or even for an easy to fix lunch, here's the very simple recipe below...

Here's what you'll need.

Can of chicken 10 0z. (white meat) or fresh chicken if you like.

1/2 c. Raspberry Cranberry Walnut Frisco..(comes pre-mixed in the produce dept.) or use fresh cranberries and glazed walnuts.

1/4 c. Mayonnaise

Celery (to your liking.)

Wrap ( I used honey wheat) but which ever one your prefer.

Mix all ingredients together and spoon into your wrap. Fold the end of wrap up like an envelope so you don't loose the good stuff and roll.

Enjoy your wrap!



Sunday Morning Coffee with God

 

See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children -think of it- and we really are!

1 John 3:1



Updated Stools take on New Lives

Last week on my Thursday To do List, I had a couple of stools that I wanted to re-style.  

Remember this one?  

 Now it looks like this...

 My first thought was to go nautical...large blue and white stripe on the cushion and white painted body.  However, finding blue and white stripe fabric this time of year in my little town, let's just say it was M. I. A.  So...I ran across this cute fabric and went with it this way. Didn't I say, things never turn out the way I plan...my creativity somehow has a mind of it's own and goes in the complete opposite direction I was thinking.  It all turned out good though.  I really like this. 

 It's a little bit of a change from what we've been seeing around blogland.  Not the usual whites.

 Completed with storage under the cushion.

With a fun colorful fabric on top.  The outline of the design is dark brown velvet which actually warms it up a little so it's not a full out Summer design.  Although you can't really tell it in this picture..by the pool...in the sun...and 90 degree weather.  Maybe I should have found a different place to take this photo.  Oh well.

The other project was this little tiny stool

It's still a work in progress so you'll have to wait to see this one.  I think I bit off more than I could chew last week...thinking I could do more than one project...hmmm.

And this one ,

Once I took off all the old fabric, I just couldn't bring myself to do anything to it.  It's so old and looking like it's on it's last leg.  I decided I would just use this for a prop for something.

Sometimes I like to leave things as they are... naturally aged and antiqued. 
So this old stool will be staying  just like this for a while anyway.
Have a good day!


Fall Back ... to the Back Porch

 As September  starts to come to an end, I'm finding it a bit more comfortable to sit on the back porch especially after redecorating it for Fall and adding a couple of new colors to the setting...purple and turquoise,  it just feels so cozy and makes it even nicer to be out there.  

 You know decorating can get expensive if you let it, but I usually don't let that happen.  I admit it, I'm a little on the cheap side and do alot of budget decorating.  So the lime green cushions had to stay because I didn't want to buy more just for the season and  so I just worked around them.

 I did add a few candles to what I already had to help tie in the new purple and turquoise colors that I brought in through new pillows...Ross, $11.00 for each set of 2.

And of course a little whimsy will do you good.  Cute little fellas.

 And just a pinch of whimsy Halloween decor for next month.

So, I'll leave you and go sit on my porch and enjoy the Fall view.

Happy Fall Yall!