Seeking Glitter and Grace

DIY Nail Art

2011-08-08T13:58:00.029-04:00

Gradient Painted Nails

If you have a plethora of polish colors, gather them together and follow these simple instructions:

http://chameleongirls.blogspot.com/2011/07/gradient-finger-nails.html

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Newsprint Nails

With typography seen just about everywhere these days, why not try it on your nails? Check out this helpful tutorial via YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZiOmiF2NmM&feature=relmfu

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If you're more adventuresome and have a little time on your hands, you might even attempt this awesome effect:

Tie Dye Nails

Actually, I'd really like to try this, but, who has enough free time to complete this whole process? Anyway, you need to see how it's done. View this instructional video which utilizes a speedy fast-forward application making it actually seem do-able.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLo3q9OsR60&feature=related

The Most Gorgeously Perfect Romantic Home

2010-06-06T10:49:00.015-04:00

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I've finally found my dream home, and I am in love.

Decorated in the shabby-chic style, this cottage oozes romantic charm.

The fact that it's located in New Zealand might seem to be a problem for me. However, it is not the biggest obstacle to my moving in.

My dream home is actually the amazing workmanship of Mercedes at Liberty Biberty. She is a talented miniaturist who created this dollhouse and most of its contents.

I urge you to visit the Liberty Biberty blog to check out the many photos. This dollhouse, which Mercedes calls the Shabby House, is truly a work of art. Make sure to scroll down and click on older posts to view the gorgeous bedroom.

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Pork Posole and Corn Bread Stew

2010-05-11T19:42:00.005-04:00

My hubby and I recently cooked a fantastic slow-cooker recipe from Family Circle magazine. A posole is a Southwestern hominy-based stew. Hominy...in case you're a Northerner like me, ... is hulled corn with the germ removed. If you're looking for an easy, filling, and delicious recipe for your Crockpot, you must try this: Pork Posole and Corn Bread Stew Recipe

HGTV Green Home Giveaway

2010-04-29T17:21:00.012-04:00

Have you entered to win this amazing home yet?

The 2010 HGTV Green Home is located in Plymouth, MA ...which is not very far from me.

I can just picture our boys hanging out in this room...

As if a new home isn't enough, the prize also includes a 2010 GMC Terrain

and $100,000!

Just visit HGTV.com to enter.

...or not, because I do plan on winning! ;)

Vintage Luggage

2010-03-29T21:10:00.014-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I came across the sweetest 70's canvas suitcase in a thrift shop. I just loved the groovy colorful flower design.

When I unzipped it, I saw that there was a matching, slightly smaller case inside. (Bonus!!) Needless to say, I was thrilled with my find, and plopped it into my shopping cart.

When I got home, I inspected the suitcase more closely and, to my surprise (and delight), I realized that inside the second one, there was a third matching suitcase! Also, each suitcase had a string with its key tied inside.

All together now...

The littlest suitcase just makes me want to plan a little weekend getaway...

For more Thrifty Treasures, please click on over to Rhoda's Southern Hospitality Blog.

Come Monday Night (the video)

2010-02-21T15:04:00.012-05:00

As I've been enjoying this lazy afternoon...
I keep hearing this gorgeous song playing over and over in my head.
I thought I'd share...

God Help The Girl

For the Love of Candy

2010-02-20T18:05:00.030-05:00

I finally solved the mystery of who's been stealing the 'prop' candy. I placed a small glass vase into a larger one, and filled the space in between with conversation hearts. Slowly, I've noticed the candy level has been going down. I spoke to the boys about it. (I even went so far as to threaten to sprinkle hot pepper on the candy.) As it turns out, the kids aren't the only ones who've been picking...

"If I just play it cool... maybe she won't notice me."

"Okay, the coast is clear... this may be my only chance."

"OMG! I think I'm actually gonna get some candy."

" Wait! Is she looking? I'll pretend I'm just smelling the flowers."

"That's it... I can't wait any longer!"

Mail's Here... Woot! Woot!

2010-02-11T22:03:00.015-05:00

I love getting mail! Of course, I'm not talking about bills and junk mail... nobody likes those. I'm talking about the absolute best kind of mail there is: Packages!

First, I was the lucky winner of the sweetest giveaway from Elizabeth over at Creative Breathing. Elizabeth is amazingly talented and her blog is so fun and whimsical.

She had a Gnome Party and she very generously held a giveaway for this adorable gnome girl...

And, now she's all mine. Don't you just adore her tiny bunny friend?

Well, my pup, Murphy sure was interested...

Thanks again, Elizabeth. They are lovingly displayed atop my bookcase. (...and out of Murphy's reach)

Next, I received a much larger package that I'd been excitedly awaiting. I took a chance and purchased a lot of vintage shoes on eBay. They are all designer leather shoes with stacked heels.

To say that I'm thrilled with my purchase is not an exaggeration. These shoes rock!

I cannot decide which pair is my favorite...

There are two pair of white spectator shoes... one with black trim, the other with brown.

These cool shoes have a goldtone chain across the front and a matching one on the back of the heel.

With these new additions, it seems I've amassed quite the shoe collection...

**I realize that nobody needs that many pairs of shoes. Being such a bargain shopper, though, I have paid so little $$ for them. In fact, this shoe shopping excursion averages out to about $3 per pair. (Yeah, that's how I'm gonna justify my sickness.)

My Two-in-One Valentine Wreath

2010-02-09T15:37:00.032-05:00

Just before Christmas, I found several boxes of ornaments, in red and soft pink at the thrift store. I just knew they'd be perfect for creating a Valentine version of my Vintage Ornament Wreath.

While perusing blogs of other crafty ladies, I became enamored with several wreaths constructed with scrunched up cupcake liners. One of my favorite versions comes from the fabulous blog Tatertots and Jello...

In addition to making my heart-shaped ornament wreath, I decided that I had to make another one using Valentine-themed cupcake liners. Unfortunately, I discovered that locating those heart-shaped styrofoam wreaths in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day is like finding the love of your life at last call.

So, armed with my thrift-store ornies, cupcake liners, and a run-of-the-mill pre-decorated heart-shaped wreath, I decided to try something slightly different. I figured I'd combine the shiny aspect of the glass ornaments with the softer, ruffly edges of the paper cupcake liners. Thus, my Two-in-One Valentine Wreath was born. Following are some photos of the process...

Okay, so it didn't look like much at first... I was thinking... "not only have I wasted a bunch of sweet vintage ornaments, but I also managed to ruin my manicure as well." Luckily, I forged on, and the wreath began to look more and more presentable.

Once all the glass ornaments were evenly distributed and hot-glued onto the wreath, I began to add in the cupcake liners. First, I folded each liner in half, and scrunched it to a point. After adding a blob of glue to the pointed end, I smooshed it into the bare spaces between the glass ornies.

Continue scrunching and smooshing until all the bare spaces are filled. It should begin to look something akin to this...

A closer view:

These photos really don't do it justice. (I know everyone says this, but it's actually true in this case ;)

I hope I inspire you to attempt a little Valentine crafting. For lots more inspiration, click on the following buttons...

Want to Be Inspired?

2010-01-15T00:33:00.004-05:00

Choosing a movie to rent is oftentimes a crapshoot. Recently, I selected a DVD just because it happened to be available in my supermarket's Redbox machine. To my surprise, Bella turned out to be a lovely and inspirational film.

It's tagline is "One Moment Can Change Your Life Forever." If you haven't seen it (...and seriously, I'd never even heard of it), seek. it. out. It happens to be the loveliest film I've seen in a long while. And, if you don't want to take my word for it, Bella won the People's Choice Award at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival.

Christmas Crafting

2009-12-02T20:27:00.010-05:00

I picked up a bunch of jewelry-making supplies on clearance at Michael's store recently. My objective is to create personal hand-crafted pieces of jewelry for several ladies on my Christmas list.

I'm also planning to attempt to make a couple of necklaces using fabric yoyos. Have you seen these? They're fantastic!

The majority of the materials I purchased have a vintage look with antiqued gold metals, pearls, and floral or nature themes.

The buttons that look like they're old and crocheted are actually hard plastic and were found at Jo-Ann's Fabric and Craft Store.

And, when I'm craftin', this is generally what you'll find me wearing. Who am I kidding? On days I don't have to leave the house, this is my dress code.

Since I owed my good friend a belated birthday gift, I gave this necklace to her.

For more craft inspiration, click on over to Kimba's A Soft Place to Land.

Vintage Christmas Ornament Wreath

2009-11-29T21:42:00.020-05:00

I have not begun decorating for Christmas yet. I follow an unwritten rule: no Christmas decor allowed before December.

However, I have been excited about participating in Vintage Christmas Decor.

Today, I am participating in a fabulous blogging party in which bloggers are sharing their vintage Christmas decorations. I so enjoy checking out the gorgeous holiday decor on everybody's blog.

I'd like to share my vintage ornament wreath that I constructed using old Shiny Brite ornaments that I've collected over time from antique stores and eBay.

For more "Vintage Christmas Monday" goodies please check out Joan's lovely blog by clicking on the button below:

Letting Go...

2009-11-29T15:40:00.007-05:00

I'm cleaning out my closet...
Instead of making me feel better -as I expected it would- I'm getting depressed.

You see, I've gained a little weight. I blame it mostly on the medication I take, which clearly states that weight gain is a common side effect. (Of course it has nothing to do with the food I have been shoveling into my mouth.)

Nonetheless...I am fat.

No, not really. I am a fairly svelte still. But that doesn't help me one bit when I'm trying to stuff my slightly larger backside into last year's jeans.

So...here I sit. Surrounded by clothes I still love...who just don't love me back.

I know: I'll get over it. I'm just a little sad today is all :(

Lisa Leonard Jewelry Giveaway!

2009-11-06T22:41:00.011-05:00

Kate at Centsational Girl is now offering a fantastic (and generous!) $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs. I so want to win this!

Click here if you'd like to enter to win. (Hurry...ends Nov. 10)

Vintage Buttons

2009-11-04T15:32:00.020-05:00

I adore vintage buttons. I have a small collection, most from my hubby's grandmother. When she passed away, he specifically asked if he could have her basket of buttons. He fondly remembered playing with them during family get-togethers.

I've added some of these buttons to a few charm bracelets I made. I think they add lot of character.

I even framed rows of fancy mother-of-pearl buttons, which decorate the dining room wall.

Today, I made a ring using 3 old buttons. I've seen this project all over blogland, and I thought I'd give it a try. The buttons can either be attached to a metal ring using a strong glue, or sewn together using thin elastic. I chose to use elastic, since I already had that on hand.

This is such a simple project, and quick! It only takes about 10 minutes from start to finish. This would make a fun craft project for children old enough to handle a needle. Since these rings are relatively cheap and easy to make, they would be a wonderful idea to create holiday gifts.

If you're interested in making a button ring like the one I made, here's what you you'll need:

buttons in staggered sizes

thin sewing elastic (I used 1/4 inch)

sewing needle

thread

First, make a loop of elastic by overlapping the ends. Make sure it's slightly smaller than your finger since the elastic will stretch.

Next, stack the buttons together, then sew them onto the top of your loop.

That's it! How easy is that? I'm not sure I'm loving the white elastic. I wonder if it comes in other colors, like black.

Ugh! I never noticed how old my hands are looking... I better start slathering on the moisturizer post-haste.

Because Tomorrow Will Be Too Late

2009-10-31T15:54:00.037-04:00

I figured I would share some of my Halloween decorations before it's time to put them away.

We recently sent my husband's niece a Halloween-themed care package at college...
Feel free to take a cupcake before you leave.

(They're calorie-free!)

Hope your Halloween is Wicked!

Love, Me

I'm Back!

2009-10-31T13:29:00.010-04:00

Yes, I have been MIA from my blog for awhile. I've been contemplating my comeback, if you will, and, well...
It can be a little intimidating to begin posting again. Do I need to explain my absence? Do I act as if I never left? Does anybody even care? And, what if I've got nothing interesting to blog about?

These are the thoughts that have been floating around in my head lately. (Why are we always our own worst enemies?) What's important is that I love blogging, miss it terribly, and truly enjoy the sharing aspect of it. Right?

Still, I am reluctant to dive back in. Why? Am I afraid of failure? What even constitutes failure in blogging? Of course, we all enjoy comments. They let us know we have readers, comrades, even fans. But, isn't it just putting ourselves out there the best part? I know I certainly feel a sense of accomplishment when I press Publish Post.

So, without further adieu, I am jumping back in...

Summer Reading

2009-06-13T11:32:00.016-04:00

Whew! I cannot believe how long it's been since I last posted. I took a little time off from blogging for several reasons. For one, I've somehow developed "tennis elbow" in my right arm, which would be easy to explain if I played, um, tennis. Of course, you don't have to be a tennis player to get "tennis elbow" but I haven't been doing any repetitive motions, except, perhaps using the computer. My cervical disc problems combined with the atrophy in my arm muscles has played some part, we're convinced.

Also, I've been trying to slowly wean myself from pain meds, which is, well, let's just say NOT FUN. So, my focus over the past month has been spending more quality time with my family. To both give my elbow a rest, and to put fewer pressures on myself, I took a break from the computer. Plus, I kinda wanted to test myself to see just how long I could manage to stay away. Blogging (particularly reading the blogs of others) can really become addicting, if you haven't already noticed.

Meanwhile, I was worried that I'd lose all my followers while I was on my unscheduled break, but, I was happy to find that I actually gained a few new followers. Welcome, to my new followers. And, thanks to my loyal blogging buddies who continue to check in here from time to time. Now, onto my planned post:

Ever since I was a little girl, summer has always been about having more time for my favorite pastime: reading. Over the last month or so, I've been combing my local Salvation Army Thrift Store for interesting books. Here's a shot of the result of one of my thrifting expeditions...

Over several trips to the thrift store, I have collected the following pile of books. I plan to delve into as many as I can over the next couple of months. I'd love to get some feedback if you've read any of them. Are any must-reads? Which are only so-so? I'd really enjoy hearing what you think?

Imagine That

2009-05-19T12:27:00.018-04:00

As the end of the school year approaches (Eeek!), I am trying to compile a list of books, DVDs, and films that I'd like to obtain. And by obtain, I mean to borrow, hopefully, either from the library of from friends. However, going out to the cinema has always been a wonderful treat for our family.

And, if I plan well, a trip to the movies doesn't have to break the bank. We generally go during matinee times, when tickets are a few dollars less. (With a few children in tow, these dollars add up quickly.) Of course, we always visit the dollar store to stock up on boxes of Whoppers, Junior Mints, and Snow Caps, instead of paying the 300-400% markup at the concession stands. And, *magically*, there always seems to be bottled water in juice boxes in my oversized handbag.

For me, the biggest problem is choosing movies that will entertain not only my children, but also myself. You know, like Nemo, Shrek, and Willy Wonka. I enjoyed those movies as much as my children did, if not more. A couple of months ago, the hubby and I took our boys to see Coraline, which was a hit for both kids and adults alike.

What movies scheduled to come out this summer fit that bill? I am considering seeing Eddie Murphy's new film, Imagine That. The premise is sweet: Murphy's character is career-driven, seemingly having little time for his young daughter. That is until, her imagination leads her to provide Dad with advice that helps him advance at his job. Plus, Eddie Murphy easily makes me laugh.

Vintage Cowboy Book

2009-05-15T17:48:00.029-04:00

~ Would someone please explain to me why it takes a pharmacy 30 minutes to refill a prescription that is already prepackaged? I know there are others ahead of me, but, it's almost like they enjoy making me come back later, when it only takes about 15 seconds to look up my ongoing script, take my money, and put the box into a bag. (And, of course, staple it ....What is the deal with pharmacies and stapling everything?) ~

Anyway, while waiting for my pharmacy to fill a (prepackaged!) prescription recently, I wandered into a tiny antique store two doors down. Lucky for me, I found the sweetest little book: The Brave Cowboy.

Originally published in 1959, The Brave Cowboy, by Joan Walsh Anglund, is the story of a young cowboy with a vivid imagination.

As with most children's books, the illustrations are the best part. The way in which the author/illustrator differentiates the boy's reality vs. dreams is thus: Reality is drawn in black sketches, while the imagined scenes are drawn in red.

The inner cover of this book is designed in a red and white checkerboard pattern. Tiny drawings of cowboy instruments fill the white squares.

Underneath the book's dust cover, I was delighted to find this adorable imprint.

This drawing of the 'heroic' cowboy, surrounded by imaginary little girls is just darling, don't you think?

You certainly don't see too many children's books with pictures of gun-toting toddlers these days.

The Brave Cowboy has been re-released over the years, most recently in 2000. But, I'm glad to have picked up this first edition to add to our family's library.

For more Show & Tell Friday Posts, hop on over to Kelli's blog: There's No Place Like Home

I'm a Rock Star! (for 12 seconds, anyway...)

2009-05-13T20:49:00.027-04:00

Over the past week, my latest 'Anthropologizing' Blog Post was mentioned in a bunch of online places (...Seriously! ) ...

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I was especially happy to notice my blog among those that my friend, Kimba, featured in her Friday Linky Love Post. I met Kimba at the Blissdom09 conference I attended back in February. Her gorgeous blog, A Soft Place To Land, encompasses everything from home decorating to frugal living to wielding a can of spray paint. Not only was having my blog mentioned on Kimba's super-exciting for me, but she sent many of her readers my way for a lookiloo. And, for that, I am incredibly grateful.

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In the comments of my "Anthropologizing" post, the lovely Rachel left the following words: "Wow, this is fabulous! I'd love to link to this if you didn't mind!" Umm, no, I don't mind. In fact, I was so grateful for the attention. Rachel blogs at One Pretty Thing, which is a daily compendium of craftiness. I was really honored to see my little craft project featured among the other selections.

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I later learned that my blog was also mentioned on Worthington Wire! Wahoo! Talk about having a great week. Worthington Wire is a fantastic website whose tagline is "Everything You Need To Stay In The Know." It's maintained by the energetic Allison Worthington, who is the sweetest overachiever I've ever had the pleasure to meet.

In addition to being the founder and editor of Blissfully Domestic, a successful women's web magazine, she's also the brainchild of the Blissdom Conference, which I freakin' loved. Meanwhile, Alli blogs at her own personal blog, Mrs. Fussypants and creates the loveliest photo jewelry. Oh yeah, I almost forgot: Alli also happens to be the mother of 5 young sons.

(Yeah, she doesn't impress me either...Not one bit.)

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This has truly been a whirlwind week for me. It was really fun to see my blog traffic multiply so quickly. I'm hoping that at least a few of you will take the time to come back and visit me again.

Added: I even think I was StumbledUpon this week. Now, if only I had the slightest clue as to what the heck that even means...

The Sweetest Gifts

2009-05-10T21:51:00.032-04:00

Here's a photo of my sister's newest baby girl. I met her for the first time this past Wednesday. My newborn niece is absolutely delicious.

This is perhaps one of the sweetest things I've ever received for Mother's Day. Of course, the handmade gifts that children make are always touching. My youngest son put this together for me all on his own, gathering tiny blossoms from our yard...

Don't you just love the tiny bathroom cup that he cut down so that every 'flower' could be seen? **Note: These cups are not waterproof, I've discovered :(

Lastly, I wanted to share what my husband decided to do for me this Mother's Day. I had expressed how much I'd love for our family to be able to sponsor a child through Compassion International. I'd been made aware of the situation of children in rural India through a trip that some bloggers took a few weeks ago. While reading their blog posts and tweets, I became convinced that there was something that I could do to make a significant difference in the life of a child.

So, I told my husband that I'd prefer he not buy me a gift for Mother's Day, but I'd rather he consider sponsoring a young child in a third world country. I was thrilled when he said he was open to the idea.

~ ♥ I am proud to share with you that we are now the loving sponsors of a beautiful 10-year-old girl from India, named Amita. According to the Compassion website, she was among the children who have been waiting the longest to be sponsored.♥ ~

Our family now waits anxiously for our packet to arrive within the next few weeks. Included will be information pertaining to how we can communicate with Amita and what items we'll be allowed to send her. My boys are most interested in being able to send and receive mail from her. But me, I can't wait to exchange photographs with "our little girl."

Let Me Anthropologize (#2)

2009-05-06T23:16:00.018-04:00

To recap, Anthropologizing is a term that I made up to refer to the process by which I take inexpensive articles of clothing, add my own crafty touches, and end up with something that's hopefully a combination of cute and funky. (Not unlike the stuff sold at the amazing, but super-expensive Anthropologie stores.) If you'd like to see my first attempt at Anthropologizing, please view this previous post.

Above is a photo of Headless Mama & Youngest Boy, taken over Spring Break in Washington, D.C. I'm wearing a Gap skirt that I purchased at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for just $2!. I knew I wanted to embellish it with some colorful flowers. I chose a small (less than 1/2 yard) piece of floral cotton fabric from my local JoAnn's Fabric and Craft Store.

I selected this particular fabric for its cute modern flowers that include several of the colors I already have in my wardrobe. This way I'd be sure to have a few choices of tops to wear with the skirt. Also, it was very important (to me!)
that the floral designs were super easy to cut around ;)

In order to adhere the flower cut-outs to the skirt, I used a fabulous product called Heat-n-Bond. This was also bought by the yard (or less)at JoAnn's just like fabric. I simply ironed it onto the back of the fabric prior to cutting out the flowers. (More specific instructions are included on the plastic backing of the fabric adhesive.)

Next, came the fun part: deciding on flower placement.

Once the design was mapped out, I just peeled the backing off each flower and ironed them on the skirt according to Heat-n-Bond instructions.

While in the process of ironing on my flowers, I took a moment to slip the skirt on, so I could double-check that I had arranged the embellishments to my liking.

And, Voila! I had made my own 'original' design. Now, even though the adhesive is made to be washable, I plan to sew a simple stitch around and across the flowers using a contrasting color, to add another decorative element, and to make it even more secure. (That is, when I go down the basement and dust off my sewing machine. Heh.)

Do You Think I'm Pretty?

2009-05-04T15:30:00.035-04:00

Today, I received a catalog with this chandelier on its front cover. My first reaction was: Who would want that monstrosity hanging in their home? I know what you're probably thinking: I'm sure it looks better when it's hanging in a room?

Negative. (Is it just me or does anyone else think it resembles a spider?) ...Maybe it would look cuter if it didn't hang down so far?

Nope...still scary. (Now, it reminds me of Medusa, you know the lady with snakes for hair) Perhaps you prefer more color in your chandelier? Then, this may be a better choice for you.

Sure, I understand everyone has different tastes, but sometimes I think designers purposely create objects that are just plain weird. And, if we don't like it, then we must not be able to understand their cool vibe. I don't know... I think some things are just plain hideous, no matter how you look at them.

When I first saw the chandelier, my initial thinking was: I should probably forward it to the Moggit girls. Moggit is a hilarious new blog run by Joy and Janet who "tackle 'fugly' design and home decor on a daily basis." If you like to laugh, and think that design just sometimes goes too far, then you must visit Moggit.

(All photos courtey of Lamps Plus, where you can find these lamps, plus thousands of more attractive lighting options: Lampsplus.com .)

JVC Everio "Send Me To BlogHer '09" Sweepstakes

2009-05-02T11:20:00.013-04:00

Many of the friends I met at the fabulous Blissdom conference in February are planning to attend the 5th annual BlogHer '09 conference this summer in Chicago. I've been asked regularly on Twitter and my blog whether or not I'll be attending. Unfortunately, I cannot dip into our family budget at this time for what for me would be an extravagance. No worries, anyway, because this amazing blogging get-together is already sold out.

Well, guess what I came across today? A contest that is giving away not only a trip to BlogHer, but also a fantastic JVC Everio Camcorder. Now, is that a prize or what? Even better, they're giving away 4! Grand prize packages. What does that include, you ask? I'll tell you...

BlogHer ’09 Conference registration
Roundtrip airfare to the BlogHer ’09 Conference in Chicago, IL
Hotel accommodations for three nights
Food allowance
A JVC Everio camcorder

If you're a blogger interested in entering the Sweepstakes, please click here for more information.

Washington, D.C.

2009-04-30T20:08:00.056-04:00

I recently mentioned that we were taking our boys to Washington, D.C. for Spring Break. Thanks to all of you who left advice about which attractions were MUST-SEE's. Honestly, there was so much to do and see that we could have stayed for weeks.

We did get to see nearly all we'd set out to, although my feet and back were screaming at the end of most days. We visited the National Zoo, where the boys were happy to see pandas, gorillas, and one very regal komodo dragon. As for myself, I was more interested in watching a peacock court a peahen. (Yes, the females are really called 'peahens.')

We made the rounds through most of the fantastic Smithsonian Museums, including the Natural History, American History, Air & Space, Indian, Portrait, and Art Museums. I only wish we had loads more time to absorb it all.

Luckily, we had the opportunity to visit one of our State Senator's offices... that of Ted Kennedy...maybe you've heard of him? What struck me most in his office were all the personal artifacts, including handwritten letters from his young nephew John, and chewed tennis balls belonging to his beloved dogs. Hey, did you know that canine friends are welcome in the Senators' offices?

Perhaps the most memorable experience (at least for the young'uns) was the underground tram ride from the Senators' offices to the Capitol Building.

The Capitol Rotunda, the domed room in the center of the Capitol building, which connects the House and Senate is absolutely stunning. At the top is gorgeous fresco which was painted by Constantino Brumidi in 1865.

Of course, the most moving of all the places we visited were the monuments and memorials: the Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam War memorials, as well as Arlington National Cemetary. And, of course there's the White House.

All week we watched as the line at the National Archives grew so long that it was wrapped all the way around the corner. On our last day, we noticed that the line was slightly shorter, and we jumped in. I was thrilled to get to see (and show my children) the actual Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Constitution.

I don't know if it's just me, but can anyone help but imagine Forrest Gump yelling "Jenny!" while standing at the Reflecting Pool in front of the Jefferson Memorial. (No?...maybe it's just me.)

All in all, we had a fantastic vacation, even though the weather was not exactly cooperative. In fact, we encountered hail while riding on the top of the double-decker bus...while the sun was shining! But, our family was not surprised. We always bring stormy weather with us when we travel.

Reflection

2009-04-28T23:13:00.015-04:00

Here's a photo of my sons standing in front of the Vietnam Memorial, taken while on vacation this past week. It's my first ever entry at the I ♥ Faces photo blog. For this week's contest, the theme is "Reflection."

Click here for more photo submissions.

My Teensy-Tiny Painting Project

2009-04-27T13:34:00.028-04:00

My blogging friend, Edie (who I've also hung out with IRL) is having a Linky Party where bloggers can share their painted wood projects. Edie has just finished an amazing transformation of her kitchen, changing it from ordinary (although still lovely) to fantabulous. Here's a sneak peek...

You must check it out. Her blog is entitled Life In Grace, and it's always fun and often inspirational.

I so wanted to join in her Blog Party, that I swooped around my humble abode, trying to find something, anything to share. Although this project didn't require much skill in the painting department, I felt it was still a worthwhile project to share. You see, I've really never been one of those people who could look at something, and consider how it might look if it were painted. I would only see objects for what they were, not what they could become .

A couple of years ago, I was searching on eBay for some wall art to hang in my youngest son's room. The walls were painted grannysmith apple. The bedding has stripes on one side, and polka dots on the reverse... in the colors of barn red, light blue, green apple, orange, and brown. Nothing I found worked with these colors. I did find the sweetest set of 4 small square wooden frames with 3-dimensional animals: 2 having colors that matched, two that didn't. One of the frames was even pink...which certainly wasn't going to go over well with my son.

Thinking that I could use 2 of them, I bid on them and won ($5 for all!) When they arrived, I fell in love with them, and wished I could find a way to use all four, as they would look so sweet hung in a square. Why it didn't hit me before, I don't know. But, it finally occured to me (yes, I'm a little slow sometimes) to paint the frames the colors I wanted. And, so I used a couple of $1 craft paints to transform the frames. I'm sorry, I don't have any before photos, but you can see the previous colors on the inside of the frames in the close-up pic.

I realize that this has probably got to be the most primitive paint project in this Blog Party. But, hey, we all have to start somewhere. And I think a mini project, such as this one, is a great way to try out your wood painting skillz. I know there are probably others out there who look at other bloggers projects, and whisper to themselves, "I wish I had the _____ to do that!" Just about every time I see photos of someone's newly painted kitchen cabinets, I proclaim: "I'm going to do that to my kitchen. What am I waiting for?" Of course, I haven't done it yet ;) Though, now, that has more to do with my neck and arm pain, than an overriding fear of ruining my kitchen.

For more (challenging) projects, check out the other links in the "Painted Wood Is Pretty" Blog Party. Don't forget to take a look at Edie's gorgeous Retro Cottage Kitchen Makeover (and check out her sexy legs, too!)

How Do You Sleep?

2009-04-19T22:37:00.009-04:00

One recent night, I checked on my 7 year-old son, while he was sleeping. I couldn't see him. All I found was a jumble of pillows...

At first glance, I thought he'd gotten out of bed, and sneaked downstairs. But, when I moved in a little closer, I saw a bit of stripey pajamas...

Of course, I got my camera to snap a few photos before I untangled him and re-tucked him in.

Did you notice the leg slipped inside the pillowcase?

Isn't it cute how little ones fall asleep in the craziest positions?

Your help needed, please!

2009-04-15T21:27:00.019-04:00

My husband and I are taking the kidlets to our nation's capital very soon. There is so much to see and do in Washington, DC, that we're a little bit overwhelmed.

Of course, our time is limited, so we'd be ever so grateful if you'd take the time to leave a comment with your specific advice. We'd love to get suggestions for which museums or attractions are must-do's (or what's worth missing?)

Also, any restaurant suggestions would be helpful as well. We are staying close to the Foggy Bottom and Georgetown areas. Thank you so much for taking the time to offer any advice you may have for us.

The Wait is Over

2009-04-12T11:45:00.004-04:00

Happy Easter!

Easter Saturday

2009-04-11T13:50:00.011-04:00

I think it's so appropriate when it starts raining on Good Friday, pours right on through Saturday, and then, the sun comes out in all its glory on Easter morning. ...That appears to be the weather for Easter Weekend in New England.

Creme-Filled Cupcakes

2009-04-09T09:37:00.022-04:00

UPDATE: I'm reposting this as a part of Tasty Tuesday at my blogging friend, Jen's amazing blog: Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.

Do these cupcakes bring back memories for you? Are you getting flashbacks of grammer school lunches? Or begging your mom to buy them when you went shopping wth her?

Recently, while in line at the grocery store, the cover of this Family Circle magazine caught my eye. It features copies of those yummy packaged desserts we all used to love during childhood (at least I did!) My favorite were the chocolate cupcakes with creme filling and that sugary-sweet chocolate ganache frosting.

My middle son, S. loves to assist me in the kitchen, especially if I'm baking. So, together, we made these creamy, chocolatey cupcakes. To make things easier (and I'm all for easier) we used a boxed chocolate cake mix to make the cupcakes.

The creme filling inside the cupcakes is also used to make the squiggles on top. All you need to make it are 4 tablespoons of softened butter, 1 and a half cups of confectioners sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of milk. Beat these ingredients together until fluffy, and place into a pastry bag. Insert the tip into the top of each cupcake and squirt in the filling. (My son thought this was the most fun part.)

To create the chocolate glaze, simply heat 1/2 cup heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup. Once it comes to a boil, take it off the stove and mix in 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips. Let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes, then whisk until it's smooth. The best way to apply the chocolate ganache is to dip the top of each cupcake into the glaze.

After the glaze cools, pipe the creme frosting (from the filing) into decorative swirls on top of the cupcakes. We chose to go the traditional route, and made them chocolate with white creme filling and squiggles. But, by adding a few drops of food coloring to the filling, the cupcakes could be more colorful and seasonal. Maybe you're looking for something new to bring to your Easter celebration this year? Pastel pink, green, and purple squiggles would be so sweet, don't you agree?

These cupcakes are more tasty and moist than those prepackaged ones (in my opinion.) I'm looking forward to trying a few more of the recipes in the April 17 issue of Family Circle. For more delicious dessert recipes, pop on over to the Ultimate Recipe Swap at http://www.lifeasmom.com/2009/04/urs-easter-dessert.html .

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-08T11:07:00.006-04:00

The No-Good, Horrible Day

2009-04-03T17:53:00.032-04:00

Today was one of those days. You know, when nothing seems to go right. Now, I am NOT talking about serious issues - like a car accident, loss of a job, or the death of a loved one. No, I'm just talking about the kind of day that starts bad, with one of life's small hiccups, and then continues to throw annoyances at you that make you wish you never even got out of bed.

My first source of aggravation came while plucking my eyebrows, when the tweezers flew out of my hand and (kerplunk!) into the toilet. Yes, I realize I should've put the toilet seat down (It's a little late for that advice, now... thanks!) You know what is my very favorite thing to do - stick my hand into the toilet to retrieve something. And, I have the tiniest tweezers which means I had to swish around and around in the bottom of the bowl before I could locate them. This brings me to one very important question: Why is toilet water so freakin' cold? Really, now shouldn't it be room temperature? Just askin'...

...Later, as I was trying to scrape the leftover wax from a votive candle holder, it slipped out of my hand, and shattered into a zillion pieces on the kitchen floor. Oh, What fun!!...

Then, I had to bring my pup to the groomers for his 'hair appointment.' He goes to the dogdressers more often than I do, and his cuts are also much more expensive. Well, it's true that he has more surface area covered with hair. (Yes, he has hair, not fur-he's one of those high-maintenance dogs.) But he doesn't have to get it colored, like I do, so really it should all even out, don't you think?

I took a few shots of Murphy prior to his hair-appointment, so I could note the difference.

Isn't he just adorable? We adopted him two years ago, when he was just a baby. And, he's become such an integral part of our family. Anyhow, he had his grooming appt, at which I was told, he had quite a bit of "matting." In order to spare him a lot of pain and suffering, they were going to give him 'a good cut.' Well, Here's what Murphy looked like when he arrived home...

Well, he certainly looked different. Even though we repeatedly told him how 'pretty' he is, I got the impression he was a tad embarrassed. The fact that he hid under the dining room table was a subtle tip-off.

Oh, and later, when I was in bed, I rubbed one foot against the other, and thought, "Gee, my heels are pretty darn rough!" In fact, it almost feels like a piece of sharp glass is sticking out of my heel. WAIT! That is glass!! Yup, a sliver of glass from my earlier candle-smashing incident embedded itself into my left heel.

Please...Bad Day...go away...come again no other day!

April Fool's Dinner

2009-04-01T20:54:00.027-04:00

This evening, I told my children that I was making them something special for dinner. As they waited (not so) patiently in the living room, I worked my devilish ways. When I finally let them into the kitchen, my kids feasted their eyes on this...

Yeah! Cake for dinner. Am I the coolest mom or what? Well, not exactly. You see, it's not really cake. It's actually...

Meatloaf 'Cake' with Mashed Potato 'Frosting'

I cooked a cake-sized meatloaf, and 'frosted' it with blue mashed potatoes. Then, using ketchup in a sandwich baggy, I squirted "Happy Spring." My kids (well, most of them) thought it was fantastic.

Anybody care to guess which one was less than thrilled with his dinner?

March On By...

2009-03-27T18:05:00.033-04:00

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

It seems as if everyone is blogging about flowering trees and transplanting annuals into the garden. But, here in the Northeast, we're still toggling between Winter and Spring.

Today, though, I did spy these harbingers of Spring..

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke

The Tap Project

2009-03-23T15:37:00.037-04:00

Did you know this week is World Water Week?

Well, I had no idea myself. Last night, my sweet hubby took me to a fabulous restaurant for a belated birthday dinner. We ordered some tap water, in addition to our wine, and were asked if we'd be interested in donating to the Tap Project. After learning that the money collected will be used to provide clean drinking water for people who don't have it, we said, "Sure." In fact, it made me feel a little guilty about all that delicious food I'd just consumed... when there are people who don't even have clean drinking water.

Well, feeling guilty isn't going to help anybody, so I decided I would do a little research into the Tap Project, and post about it on my blog. And with my huge fanbase, well, the world will have clean drinking water in no time. Not really...I know. But maybe this will reach a few readers, and together we can make a teensy-tiny bit of difference.

"During World Water Week, March 22-28, 2009, the Tap Project will once again raise vital donations and awareness for UNICEF’s water and sanitation programs. For every dollar raised, a child will have clean drinking water for 40 days. All funds raised support UNICEF’s efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world." ... Tap Project ® Homepage

Posted using ShareThis

There are thousands of restaurants participating in World Water Week - check out the Tap Project Homepage for details. You can also support this campaign by making a donation in several other ways. I think the following method is so up-to-date (and easy!)...

You can donate to the Tap Project using your cellphone.

Just text "TAP" to UNICEF (864233) to make a $5 donation, and a one-time charge of $5 will be added to your phone bill. If you're able to give more, you can text "TAP" up to 5 times per billing cycle (to donate $10, $15, $20, or $25.)

If you're not currently able to make a financial donation, you can support the Tap Project by spreading awareness about this worthy cause. For updates, follow @tapproject on Twitter.

Note: UNICEF Ambassador Joel Madden will be speaking about the Tap Project on Larry King Live tonight.

Ultimate Blog Party 2009

2009-03-20T15:38:00.037-04:00

I am so happy to join in the Ultimate Blog Party 2009. Welcome to my blog, Seeking Glitter and Grace. My real name is Michelle, but I'm known as Vintagesquirrel in Blogland and on Twitter.

I am pretty new to blogging, as I started only 3 months ago. I suffer from chronic pain due to degenerative disc disease, and had surgery on my cervical spine(neck) in May, 2008. Around this time, I discovered blogs, and found that reading them and following the lives of others helped to distract me somewhat from my pain. In December 2008, I decided to jump in and start my own blog, Seeking Glitter and Grace. For more information about how I got into blogging, you can read My Very First Post.

This blog allows me to share my crafty side, like when I made a heart by tying pieces of ribbon and yarn to a heart-shaped form. Or when I attempted to "anthropologize" my wadrobe by adding felted flowers in this post.

I'm aso an avid thrift shopper, and love to share my wares here. Occasionally, I'll share a great recipe: like the post where I made these homemade marshmallows.

And there are some recipes, you'll be glad I didn't...

And, whatever else is going on in my crazy life, I'm bound to blog about it. Oh, and just to let you know, I've got my party shoes on...

Thank you for dropping by! If you'd like to leave a comment, I really enjoy hearing from you. To visit other blogs who are participating in this party, click on the button below.

My Top Blog Party Prize Choices are as follows:

US 89 $100 HomeGoods gift certificate donated by HG Openhouse
US 21 $50 Target gift certificate donated by Agoosa.com
US 22 $50 Target gift certificate donated by Beginner Baby Blog

If my top 3 choices are taken, then I'd love any of the following (in order of preference) US 19, USC 26, US 21, US 22, US 19, USC 40, USC 58, USC 36, USC 56, USC 47, INTL 64, INTL 41, USC 53.

Coraline

2009-03-18T13:39:00.052-04:00

Have you seen this film yet? We took the boys to see Coraline the week it was released. I have always been intrigued by stop-motion animation. Ever since the Rankin/Bass Christmas television specials of my youth (Rudolph, Year Without A Santa Claus, Jack Frost, etc), I have loved me some stop-mo animation. In fact, prior to having children, my husband and I attended several local animation film festivals. We were early fans of Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit shorts and feature-length films.

Coraline is the story of a young girl who discovers a hidden passageway in an old house which leads to a strange and 'opposite' world, which appears very much like her real life... only better. This movie is actually history-making, in that it is the first stop-motion animation film made with stereoscopic 3D technology. What does all that mean exactly? Lucky for you -and me- I did a little research and this is what I learned:

Stop-motion animation works by shooting a single frame of an object (or puppet), then moving the object ever so slightly, and then shooting another frame. When the film runs continuously, the illusion of fluid motion is created and the objects appear to move by themselves. This is similar to the animation of cartoons, but using real objects instead of drawings.

Steroscopic 3D involves taking a picture for the left eye, then moving the camera a preset distance and taking another one for the right eye. The effect makes the images jump off the screen much more vividly. There's none of the silly 'poke you in the eyes' 3-D tricks in this film. Instead, the Coraline 3D technology was used to enhance the sets and characters giving them more depth and making them seem more realistic.

Films featuring stop-motion animation require hours of tedious work and can take a very long time to produce. This form of filmmaking is truly a labor of love, due to the sheer amount of detail, hard work, and dedication involved. I read somewhere that during production of Coraline, it took about a week to create just 1 minute of completed animation. And, the entire film took nearly 4 years from start to finish.

Due to the proliferation of computer-generated animation movies, I think some of the amazement over stop-motion animation may be lost on our children. Knowing all the painstaking work involved is what makes us more appreciative of this art form. Stop-motion animation is very much a hand-crafted art, utilizing modalities such as sculpting, painting, sewing, and even knitting. I have enjoyed sharing these quick videos from YouTube with my boys in an attempt to give tham a sense of what's involved in creating this type of an animated film.

For this spooky Alice-in-Wonderland-type tale, numerous puppets (28 for Coraline alone!) and 130 sets were designed and built. The puppets are only inches high, with metal “skeletons,” and faces and bodies sculpted from clay and other materials that suit their character. For more insight into the detailed hand-crafted work, take a look at this short (2 mins) video featuring the talented woman who was responsible for knitting Coraline's teensy-tiny sweaters and gloves...

The story is described as a "fairytale nightmare" by its creators. The MPAA gave it a PG rating due to its somewhat creepy overtones. Therefore, if you have little ones who are easily frightened, this film is probably not for them. The conservative Dove Foundation awarded Coraline its 'Family Approved Seal' for ages 12 & up. For more information about the Dove Foundation, you can read my previous post.

We brought our sons, ages 14, 12, and 7 with us. Although the film may be a little dark for some 7 year-old's, my son loves all things creepy, so I wasn't worried about him. You do not need to have children to enjoy this fantastic film, of course. I am fairly sure that my husband and I enjoyed Coraline as much, if not more than our children.

Feeling Lucky

2009-03-17T11:40:00.029-04:00

I want to thank everyone for your kind words. My doctor told me that my chronic pain along with my medications have probably put my immune system at a disadvantage. Thus, not only did I contract influenza, but my body had to work extra hard to recover from it. I am feeling much better now, and am looking forward to Spring, and all it has to offer.

Over the past couple weeks, it seems that my luck has been changing - for the better! It appears that I'm on quite the winning streak. Here is an overview of my winnings...

My crocs have arrived! In February, I attended Blissdom, a fabulous blogging conference held in Nashville. One of the sponsors for the conference was Crocs, and they gave away a gift certificate for a free pair of your choice. Are you aware of all the style available from Crocs. I chose a fabulous leopard-print slingback ballet flat called Malindi.

I entered to win this fantastic prize at the Art Of Accessories blog. There were 3 of these Vivienne Tam wireless mouses (mice?) up for grabs, and I won! This little device has been so wonderful for me as it allows me to relax my shoulders and arms. Therefore, I can work in a much more comfortable position when using my laptop. Thanks so much, DWJ.

I also recently received a swap from my sweet blog friend, Sherry at If I Could Set My Soul Free. We were partners in the Bits and Baubles swap, in which we stuffed a sandwich baggy with craft supplies, scraps and such. Sherry went out of her way to send me the most adorable crocheted flowers - a dozen of them! That wasn't all either; check out my winnings...

I also entered and won this Cloth Paper Scissors magazine at the On Ruby's Hill blog. Have you seen this amazing publication?

Last, but certainly not least, my youngest son's school held a Family Carnival fundraiser last weekend. In addition to children's games, and food, they raffle off a bunch of amazing gift baskets. The parents of each class donate items and put together these baskets, each with a different theme. Well, I bought $20 worth of raffle tickets (of course, it's a great cause) and, guess what?

I won... not one... not two... but THREE BASKETS!

The first basket was a Scrapbooking Basket, and it was filled with wonderful crafting supplies, including a set of scissors that have a variety of decorative edges.

The next basket was a pet-themed basket, and most of the items inside were dog-related. There were treats, a brush, a reflective collar, and oodles of doggie toys. The $20 Petco gift card was a very thoughtful addition. Our sweet pup, Murphy, is surely one lucky dog.

The last basket had a Reading theme and included lots of books (for both adults and children), a comfy throw, pillow, and snuggly stuffed animal. There was also a $25 giftcard to Barnes & Noble. One of the books, Marley & Me, is on my Must Read List.

All these wonderful surprises made my days a bit brighter. There's nothing like winning a prize to make a girl like me excited. (You should have heard me squeal when the woman telephoned to tell me I won the 3 baskets.) Also, the warmer weather and buds on the trees can really lift one's spirits. I am looking forward to Spring this year more than ever.

Oh, and a very Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again..
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Hang on, please...

2009-03-12T13:24:00.011-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm sorry that my posting has been sporadic lately. I've been incredibly tired since getting over the flu, and am mainly focusing on taking care of my family and home. Just keeping up with the laundry and dishes has been a physical drain. I mean, can I at least clean up the kitchen after a meal before my kids tell me they're hungry again? Really, is that too much to ask? And, honestly, do they need to eat dinner every night?

I am so very thankful for all of you who take time out of your busy lives to visit this blog. And, I especially enjoy reading your comments. (By the way, I'd love to hear from those of you who've never left a comment. Even just to say, Hello! I promise I don't bite.) So, please hang in there with me, while I try to get my mojo back. I promise it will be worth it.

Meanwhile, I read a thought-provoking post today that I believe many of you will also want to read. It is entitled "Christian" and can be found it at the blog, Suburban Turmoil. If you have the time, check out some of the comments, too.

xoxo -Michellle

Win a Blog Makeover

2009-03-11T11:16:00.012-04:00

I just found out about this fantastic giveaway... Carrie from Sweet Faerie Designs is offering a Custom Blog Makeover. And, her designs are just gorgeous. If you're a blogger, and are interested in winning a blog redesign, check out her site. You can find out more about this giveaway (and enter to win!) at Pink and Polka Dot, a lovely blog that I follow and you need to visit. In fact, it is currently celebrating its 1 year blogiversary.

Hurry! This contest ends tonight (March 11) at midnight ET!

What Can You Buy With A Dime?

2009-03-06T17:28:00.036-05:00

You know how little kids are so cute when they have a handful of change, and they ask you, "What can I buy with this much money?" And, usually you have to break it to them that there's basically nothing you can but these days with 37 cents. That's not necessarily true. Have you ever taken your children to a yard sale, where cast-off toys can sometimes be had for a quarter?

How about a thrift store? It's true that they're not always the most child-friendly places. (There's probably not going to be a play area, and unfortunately, they can sometimes be, well, less than pristine.) But, bargains, they can certainly be found at your local thrift store. Okay, I'm sure your probably thinking "A dime? Really, does anything actually cost only 10 cents?" Yup. I recently bought something that I think is pretty great for just a dime. Read on for more details...

This week I spent a couple hours treasure hunting at my local Salvation Army Thrift Store. The kids were in school, I was in the mood to shop, and, most importantly, it was Wednesday - half-price day for clothing!

I first hit the women's pants and skirts section, which is oddly organized not by size, or even season, but by color. This means you have a whole lot more stuff to wade through just to find something that's in your size range. I'm sure that some people would be too frustrated to bother, but not me. I love the thrill of the hunt.

I tried on lots of pants, several skirts, and a couple of dresses. I ended up purchasing a pair of Calvin Klein jeans (love the fit!)[$2], pink Gap cords [$2], and gray Banana Republic fully-lined light wool pants[$3.]

Next, I found a Gap jean skirt [$2], tan Gap A-line skirt [$2], black, pin-stripe Hot Kissstretchy jean skirt [$1.50], as well as a beige H & Msundress[$3.50.] I intend to embellish (or rather, Anthropologize) the dress.

Shirts can be a bit more trouble to find due to the following reasons: 1) the ridiculous organization by color only, so that it takes forever to go through all the racks, and 2) the fact that many of the tops are stretched out, shrunken, stained, pilling, or just appear very 'used'. For that reason, I usually only buy shirts that are or look like they're new. Luckily, I found a brand-new, with tags on, brown, striped Gap top [$2.]

I've been purchasing 100% wool sweaters and putting them away for a later project for which I plan to felt them. For more info on felting, please see my previous post. Although, I bought 2 wool sweaters with this in mind, they are quite possibly too nice to cut up, and I may just end up wearing them. One is a light blue Abercrombie and Fitch crewneck [$2.50]; the other is a striped crewneck from the Gap [$2.] One of my better finds just may be the dark brown 100% cashmere shrug by designer Trina Turk[$2.] It is super-soft.

Oh, and for $1 and $2 respectively, I picked up a long slinky silver scarf and a 100%long silk floral scarf.

Even though only the clothing is half-off on Wednesdays, I cannot leave the thrift store without checking out what they have in the book section. And, boy did I hit pay dirt. I bought 9 books, and the combined total came to $7.35. My favorite book finds that day include The Shakespeare Reader, A Little Book of Manners for Boys, and paperbacks by Nora Ephron, and Anita Shreve. The book, Do Penguins Have Knees? has given this family lots of fun information for stimulating dinner conversation. And, yes, my 10 cent find was a book with piano music of Christmas Carols published in 1957. It includes the lyrics and the sweetest illustrations. Did I mention it was only 10 cents?

Lastly, as I was coming out of the fitting room, I noticed the most adorable lamp high up on a shelf. (Can a lamp be adorable?) It didn't have a price on it, so I brought it to the attention of a man working there. He went into the back, and came out with a price tag of $5.99. I plugged it into a wall socket to make sure it was in working order (Everything is final sale.) It worked fine. So, I thought, $6 isn't bad for a lamp with a shade and a lightbulb.

So, even though my total sounded like quite a lot of money to me [$40.84], I got a whole lot of good and useful stuff. What do you think? I'd love to hear from others who like to shop at thrift stores. Or if you've never been to a thrift store, and have questions about how it works, I'd be glad to try to answer them.

(If anyone's wondering: Yes, penguins do indeed have knees.)

Snow Day Craft Project

2009-03-02T20:44:00.019-05:00

A couple months ago, I read about this great craft idea on a fellow blogger's site. It's similar to the awesome Find-It Games that my children love. Basically, these games are cylinders filled with plastic pellets in which are hidden about 25 tiny objects. Children and adults (Yes, including me!) have been known to spend hours trying to locate every last item.

So, I had been gathering the materials for this project. And, today, being yet another snow day for my boys, I thought was the perfect time to attempt this project.

The materials we used to make each Hidden Object bottle were:

**1L Smart Water bottle, label removed
**uncooked rice (or plastic pellets)
**small funnel
**25-30 tiny objects (eg: paperclip, eraser, marble, screw, toothpick, mini pompom, dime, pasta, rubber band, button, and a Lego brick)

This is a rather simple craft project, actually. The most difficult part is preparing the bottle. Removing the label requires a little vegetable oil, as well as some elbow grease. Then, I used dishsoap to remove the oily residue. Also, you'll want to have the interior of the bottle dry before adding the rice, so there's a bit of wait time involved. (I mention these steps, since I wish I had prepared the bottles beforehand. When they're excited about doing a project, children aren't the best at waiting patiently. ;) While the bottles are drying, the kids can go on a hunt for fun little objects to place inside.

The remaining steps are rather quick and easy. Basically, you just take turns pouring the rice in using the funnel, and then adding several of the small objects every so often. Make sure to leave a few inches of space at the top, so that the rice will move freely when the bottle is tipped this way and that. Once you're sure you have the correct amount of rice mixed in with the hidden objects, the bottle cap can be glued on. This will prevent someone from accidentally spilling its contents.

It's a good idea to write down all the hidden objects, so that the user will know when he has found them all. If you make more than one Hidden Object Game, the children can take turns playing with each one.

Show & Tell: Vintage Biscuit Tins

2009-02-27T16:21:00.016-05:00

One of the few collections I have is vintage biscuit tins. The shapes, colors, and patterns just draw me in. There are two reasons why they are perfect items for me to collect: 1) They are unbreakable, and 2) They are fairly cheap. I have never been one who's interested in collecting fragile, expensive knickknacks.

I purchased my biscuit tins for just a couple dollars each at yard sales and thrift stores. Most (if not all) of them were made in England, and originally held English tea cookies. Very recently, I decided to hang two shelves on my bedroom wall so that I'd have a place to display my small collection. I really enjoy being able to look at them, especially in the morning light.

Grosgrain: Anthropoli-fication Boyer Cream Cardi GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-02-26T02:29:00.008-05:00

Grosgrain: Anthropoli-fication Boyer Cream Cardi GIVEAWAY!!!!

Okay, here it is. My great idea. Being done by someone else. Who is talented. Did you hear the wind go out of my sails just now? Naw, I'm not jealous. I really like Kathleen of Grosgrain. I've actually been following her blog for awhile now. She's creative, talented, generous, and adorable to boot. (Wait, maybe I'm just a teensy bit jealous.)

Anyhow, I wanted to share this with you because she is having a giveaway for this fantastic sweater. And I'd love to see one of my readers win it. So that they could promptly give it me. (Of course.)

It's not about the chocolates

2009-02-23T12:12:00.027-05:00

I mentioned yesterday that there was some activity going on around here this weekend. I had been in and out of consciousness due to whatever bacterium decided to invade my body. Thankfully, on Sunday, I was able to sneak downstairs to capture a photo here and there.

Did you expect to find that my house was in complete disarray since Mommy wasn't paying attention? I sorta did. Instead, I found my amazing hubby doing laundry...

Doing crafty stuff with our high-energy 7 year-old...

Cooking a delicious gourmet dinner...

Beef Bourguignon served over buttered egg noodles. (Yeah, baby!)

and just hanging out by the fire with our older boys...

So, what's with the title of this post, you may be wondering? Well, on Valentine's Day, my hubby, admitted that he "didn't buy me anything." We've never fallen into the trap of feeling like we have to exchange gifts just because it's a particular date. Sometimes we do, but more often, we do not. So, of course, I didn't care one bit that my husband hadn't bought me anything for Valentine's Day. He expresses his love for me in a myriad of ways every single day. And, to me, that is so much more important than chocolates.

The Lost Weekend (& Giveaway Winner)

2009-02-22T16:16:00.004-05:00

This weekend has been a complete blur to me. I've been SO sick. Unable to get out of bed...dizzy...chills...headache...sore throat...runny nose...and the ACHES, oh the aches! My eyeballs hurt, my hair hurt! Thankfully, I was able to sleep for about 40 of the last 48 hours. Now, I am at last able to sit upright, and turn on my laptop again.

I apologize for not posting the winner of the Valentine's Giveaway, as I had promised. (I actually was awake at 5am today, and realized this fact.) So, without further adieu, the winner is........

"Walking on Sunshine"

Please email me your mailing address, so I can send the lovely red velvet journal your way. (And, don't worry, it's packed away, and I won't touch it in my germy state. I'll have someone else pack it up for you. :)

Thanks everyone for entering, and especially for sharing your Valentines with us. Your stories were very touching.

And stay tuned, to get a peek at what went on in my house while I was out of commission.

Let Me Anthropologize (First Attempt)

2009-02-19T20:22:00.034-05:00

What am I anthropologizing for, you ask? Or better yet, what am I even talking about? Well, previously I wrote a post about how I just LOVE many of the adorable clothes that are sold at the fabulous Anthropologie store. Sadly, pretty much everything I fall in lust with is out of this SAHM's budget. When I explored what it is about their clothes that draws me to them, I discovered that most of their clothing features various forms of embellishment.

Embellishment:
1. (noun) embellishment
a superfluous ornament

2. (noun) ornamentation, embellishment
the act of adding extraneous decorations to something

Thus, I set out to find a way that I could have the fancy style, without the fancy pricetag. Here, I will share with you my first attempt at what I have affectionately termed: Anthropologizing.

I recently purchased this long tunic from TJ Maxx for $7.00. (See pricetag below, if you don't believe me.)

I took this little number and embellished it a bit by adding some flowers made from felted wool. Apparently, felted wool can be purchased, but it's expensive. And, please, don't confuse felted wool with the felt sheets which can be bought at your local craft store for 50 cents.

No, you'll probably want to create your own felted wool. And it's quite simple actually. You take a 100% wool sweater (an old holey one, preferably) and machine-wash and dry it at the hottest settings. (C'mon, I'll bet you've already felted a sweater before, albeit accidentally.) Once wool has been felted, it cuts easily and will not unravel.

**I implore you to not try this in your own residential washing machine, or else it may just seize up from all the wool fibers that inevitably come free during the wash cycle. (Not that I would know anything about such a fiasco. Heh) I have heard of others who have done this with those larger commercial washers found at the laundromat without any problems.

I chose to cut out free-form flower shapes because I've seen lots of flowers on Anthropologie clothes, and also because they're easy.

Then, I chose large colorful buttons and complementary thread and went to work, sewing my little flower babies onto my cheapo top (er, I mean lovely tunic.)

I felt it needed something on the other side to balance out the 2 flowers, so I added a larger double-layered flower. (Now, really, who do I think I am getting all fancy like that?) And, basically that was that. Here I will repost the photo of me with the Nester, because A) She is awesome, and B) This is the only decent shot of all 3 flowers...

In case you've been wondering whether Anthropologie phoned me to ask where I have been hiding my talents, and that they need to have me consulting with their company, and yada, yada, yada...

Well, not exactly. I mean it came out cute, sure. But I don't think anyone thought I paid $178 for it or anything. Not to worry, though. This was only my first attempt. I plan to try, try again. And, you, my lucky readers, will be privy to my every endeavor.

Oh, and I though I'd add a pic of the shoes that I wore with the tunic (and dark brown leggings, for those who must know).
Just. because. they're. so. freakin'. cute.

**NOTE: Don't forget to enter my sweet giveaway here, it runs until Saturday 2/21.

Valentine's Day Giveaway

2009-02-14T19:56:00.035-05:00

I hope that everyone is enjoying this day of love.

I know I certainly am.

My youngest son gave me the following cards today:

What do you think of a giveaway for Valentine's Day? Ooh, how about a red velvet journal from Red Envelope.com?

All you need to do to enter this giveaway is to leave a comment, telling me who is your valentine? This may be your sweetheart, your child, your grandpa, or even your dog. (Please, make sure that I'll be able to contact you, if you're the winner. So, if you don't have an email connected to your blog or your profile, make sure to leave it within your comment.)

We are taking the boys skiing for a few days. This giveaway will run through next Saturday, February 21. I hope you'll leave a comment and enter to win...

Valentine Craftiness

2009-02-12T21:07:00.045-05:00

To my fabulous readers: If you haven't already noticed, I now have my own domain name, which is www.vintagesquirrel.com. Hopefully this will be a little easier to remember and type in than the longer: www.vintagesquirrel.blogspot.com. (You should still be able to access my blog at the .blogspot address, however, I am aware that there has been an issue with this over the past few days.) Thanks for hanging in there!

I have been working on a sweet Valentine craft for the Little Tokens of Love Swap hosted by the Prim & Whimsy Girls. According to the instructions, swappers were asked to:

...create any heart-shaped, handcrafted, Valentine's item - using any medium and any colors you like- as long as the finished piece is small enough to fit into a 5X5 inch box.

My inspiration for my little token was the Nester. If you don't already know who she is (Really, what is wrong with you?), you absolutely have to check out her gorgeous blog. Her tagline is: "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." ...Amen, sistah... Anyhow, the Nester (as she is called by everyone) is quite famous for her garlands made from scraps of ribbon and fabric.

And speaking of the Nester... Who, my friends, do you think I met this weekend at the fabulous Blissdom Conference? Yesiree...And she could not have been nicer. Here we are just hanging out...

I thought the scrap garland technique might translate nicely to a smaller project, and figured a heart may just be the perfect shape. I began by forming a piece of wire into a heart. As this swap required that all crafts fit into a 5in x 5in box, I had to work (somewhat) within these parameters.

Next, I simply started tying bits of ribbon, yarn, and fabric scraps around the wire, and knotting them. And I continued to do this again and again and again. (Definately not the kind of activity I'd suggest for someone with chronic pain in her arms and hands. Duh!)

...I know what you're thinking, "Why didn't you take photos at each step of the project?"... Good question! Next time I will do just that. Unfortunately, I only have pics of the completed project. I think it came out pretty sweet, though, if I do say so myself...

I hope my swap partner, Mindy, appreciates all the work that went into creating this (slightly larger than...shhh!) 5in x 5in scrappy heart.

And, for those who've been wondering about my foray into embellishments, did you notice the pink and brown top I was wearing at in the photo above? Ummm, yeah...I made those flowers! Stay tuned for a post on exactly how I created them...

Finding My Bliss (Nashville-Style)

2009-02-09T19:22:00.045-05:00

Guess where this lucky chick was this weekend? Nashville, Tennessee, Y'all! I was thrilled to attend a fabulous conference which I hadn't even heard of 2 months ago. BlissDom09 was hosted by Blissfully Domestic and the One2One Network.

**Now, I must tell you that I have only been on a plane less than a dozen times in my whole life, and I've certainly never flown solo. As for the question my friends and family kept asking beforehand: "How many other people did I know who'd be there?" Umm, that would be zero. But I wasn't going to let my nerves keep me from BLISS. Would you? ;)

At Blissdom, I absorbed as much information as possible from the panel speakers, who were astonishingly resourceful, accessible, and humble. The sessions in the apprentice track covered everything from naming your blog, using hosting platforms, blog design, to finding your voice, photo editing and outreach. The more experienced bloggers followed a track which focused on more advanced topics such as branding yourself, marketing your blog, and even book deals. The only downside was that I had to choose between sessions, thereby missing some of the other speakers. For this reason, I plan to purchase transcripts of the entire conference, so that I can listen to the panels I missed and review the ones I didn't.

What I wasn't expecting from Blissdom, was that I learned even more from the various women I chatted with throughout the weekend. From my lunch with Sparksfley on the first day...

...to hanging with my favorite Tennessee girlies (Edie, Leighann, Denise, and Kelly) on Friday night...

...Certainly chillin' on a Saturday with the likes of Poppy Buxom, Domestic Chicky, White Trash Mom, and the one and only Jen Lancaster, author and keynote extraordinaire was a night I won't soon forget...

Of course, how can I forget pushing the late, late-checkout in that sweltering hot (and smelly!) room on the eight floor. Six of us with later flights home were holed up trying to eek out a little more bliss. (Shout out to my late-check-out girls: Sugar, Roni, Jyl, Carissa, and Colleen.) Honestly, I could go on and on with all the fabulousness that was floating around at Blissdom09.

Don't even get me started on the live entertainment, cocktail parties, photo shoots,pajama parties and free giveaways. I will soon be sporting a pair of fabulous leopard-print Crocs courtesy of George Smith. Thankyouverymuch.

During the conference, it ocurred to me that my blog doesn't really fit into a particular niche. It's just my voice, for good or for bad. Who am I, for that matter? I'm not just a stay-at-home mother, chronic pain sufferer, thrift shopper, and harried housewife, but also a woman with varied interests, latent creativity, and her own unique perspective.

Of course, having attended this conference doesn't magically transform me into a better writer, photographer, or even someone who knows the first thing about html. (I only wish!) What I acquired at Blissdom was a sense of empowerment to just be myself. To write about what I know. What I like. What I feel. The hope is that my readers will like me for who I am, and want to come along for the ride. (Oh yeah, and I gained a bunch of new friends!)

To anyone considering reaching outside of your comfort zone, and going down a new path (even though you may be afraid of failure - and really, who isn't?), I'd certainly recommend going for it. I have never felt a stronger sense of being exactly where I was supposed to be than I did this past weekend. (Although being at my children's births was pretty special, too.)

Not for one minute did I feel that I was less valuable than anyone else. I'm talking about very successful people here, that is, in the traditional sense of how success is measured. There were women who own their own companies, bloggers who've been blogging for years, people with all kinds of awards, sponsorships, book deals, etc. Did they make me, little ole Vintagesquirrel, who's been blogging for less than two months, feel inferior? Not for a second. I am one of them.

I am a blogger.

**Finally, I want to thank my fabulous husband, Tommy, for not just saying that I could go, but for insisting that I should go...Mmmwah.

Faking the Anthropologie Look

2009-02-01T20:40:00.026-05:00

I just LOVE the clothes sold at stores like Anthropologie. Unfortunately, as a SAHM of 3, I cannot afford to shop at these places. Being a somewhat creative person, I've been trying to figure out how I can have the look I want without the hefty prices.

Most of the pieces I covet are fairly simple designs with a slightly funky twist. So, I've been researching how I can alter cheaper clothes (or free pieces I already own) to achieve an Anthropologish look.

For example, I really like the flowers surrounding the neckline on the Starflower Cardigan.

Or the felted wool leaf design on the Raspberry Blossom Tea.

I adore the ruffled flowers on the Sweet William Blouse.

And the lace appliques across the middle of the Rastlina Blouse...so sweet.

For me, what really makes the Poppy's Majesty skirt so special is the addition of a black lace hem.

There are a number of wonderful books which have information on projects to perk up your wadrobe. I chose one from Amazon.com called Complete Embellishing Techniques by Kayte Terry. She provides step-by-step instruction on embellishing with lace, ribbons, and fabric appliques, as well as beading, felted wool, and ruffles.

I cannot wait to get started with a project or two. My clothing may not come out looking like they jumped right off the Anthropologie racks. They will, however, be one-of-a-kind designs that are way more frugal. And, hey, isn't that what we all really want?

YouTube Phenom: Lauren Luke

2009-01-30T20:56:00.014-05:00

In a previous post, I mentioned that I haven't got a clue when it comes to applying eye shadow. Well, guess what, my friends? I think I may have just found the person who can change that for me...

Her name is Lauren Luke and she's a 27 year-old single mother living in a working-class town in the north of England. She's not a trained makeup artist; she just has this innate ability to apply gorgeous eye makeup. Lauren creates short video tutorials in her small bedroom, and uploads them to YouTube under the username panacea81. Some of her most-viewed tutorials are her recreations of celebrity-inspired looks.

Not only is Lauren amazingly talented, but she's also very likable (and quite funny!) Her accent is pretty cool, too, quite similar to a Scottish brogue. Lauren is a YouTube phenomenon, with millions and millions of hits. She was even one of the first YouTube partners in the UK, meaning that she shares in the revenue of its advertisements. Currently, Lauren's in the process of launching her own cosmetics line, and will be penning a beauty column in The Guardian newspaper's Weekend edition beginning tomorrow.

The BBC Channel One has even produced a mini-documentary on Lauren. You can view the nearly 9 minute episode on YouTube, using the following link:

Okay, I am now committed to learning the fine art of eye makeup application. With Lauren's help, I think I just might be able to figure it out.

Kid-Friendly Movies (Another Snow Day)

2009-01-28T12:48:00.022-05:00

Today, my children are enjoying another snow day. Unfortunately, after several inches of snow, it has now turned to a yucky freezing rain. So, instead of playing outside...building snowmen, sledding, or having snowball fights (Plan A), they are cooped up indoors.

Plan B involved watching a movie On Demand (which for anyone who does not know about this option, it's a movie rental program done directly through your cable company, so that noone needs to venture outside.) Trying to find a movie that is appropriate for my 7 year-old to view, as well as being entertaining enough for my 12 and 14 year-olds is not always an easy task. One of the tools that I utilize in choosing movies for my kids is the Dove.org website.

That got me thinking... How many parents out there are not even aware of the Dove Foundation's fabulous website? Maybe I ought to give it a mention on my blog...

According to their website:

"Since 1995 The Dove Foundation has been publishing our movie reviews on the Internet. Well over 100,000 families rely on these reviews each month to help them make informed choices about the entertainment their family can watch with confidence."

For those of you with young children, you know how difficult it can be deciding whether a particular movie will be appropriate for your child to view. Luckily, this wonderful website from the Dove Foundation gives in-depth information about the wholesomeness of family movies.

As my children get older, I find choosing movies even more difficult. Sometimes, a movie is labelled with a PG rating, but what exactly is the questionable content? This is where I find Dove.org to be the most helpful. They give specific information divided into the following 6 categories: sex, language, violence, drugs, nudity, and other, which contains any uncategorized references including those related to religion or the occult.

For example, a movie that my 7 year-old son wants to see, Hotel For Dogs is reviewed. In addition to a short synopsis of the film, they give the following specific information:

Sex: A couple kiss.
Language: OMG/G-5; Crap-2
Violence: Young kids pawn a rock in merchandise box for money; dog steals hot dog; foster parent grabs boy; children break into dog pound.
Drugs: None
Nudity: A butt crack is shown; cleavage.
Other: Issues dealing with foster parents and children; dog bathroom humor; caseworker lies to foster parents.

This way, you now have very specific information about what you may (or may not) find objectionable. Right down to a running count of curse words. This is so much better than just relying on the MPAA ratings of G, PG, or PG-13, don't you think?

Upon doing a little research today at Dove.org's website, I realized that they are a not-for-profit organization and they not only have reviews of current films and videos, but they also review books and audio CD's.

Before allowing your children (or anyone's children, for that matter) to watch a film, click on over to the Dove.org to see whether or not it's Dove-approved.

Organizing, anyone?

2009-01-27T23:45:00.009-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I heard about a great blogging idea. Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick was hosting an Organizing Party. I really wanted to participate, but, honestly, who am I to give advice on decluttering and organizing?

(Sheesh, our Christmas trees is still standing more than a month after Christmas...Seriously...now, why would I make that up?)

So, although, I have a long way to go toward having a neat and organized home, I do believe I have a couple of ideas worthy of sharing.

This is how we solved the problem of having to look for hats and gloves each time we're leaving the house. We simply attached some eyehooks on the inside of our coat closet door and strung a clothesline vertically. Now everyone can hang his or her hat and gloves using clothespins. (Or more realistically, Mommy can put them there so that the boys can quickly find them before they're late for the school bus.)

Next, is a clever way that I have 'hidden' storage of a not so pretty necessity in our powder room. (...at least they are a necessity in our home)

What do you think is stored inside that lovely wooden box? Tushie wipes! - they're not just for babies anymore, folks. Try them, and you'll never go back to dry.

Even though I'm probably too late to join in Sara's Organizing Party, I feel I can cross off my 'random act of kindness' for today.

You're welcome.

Valentine Goodness

2009-01-26T19:19:00.029-05:00

Since my swap partner has already received her box from me for the Very Vintage Valentine Swap, I can now share with you what was inside. It was definately a package that I would have enjoyed receiving myself.

I wrapped up a lot of lovelies including a pair of red, fluffy slipper-socks and a sweet old-fashioned dress hanger with rhinestone belt buckle. Not pictured are a decorated sugar cookie and Lindt chocolate truffles. Yumm...

I found these awesome decks of cards - one set features a synopsis of a romantic film on each card; reading them just makes you want to watch all these old movies. The other set was entitled 52 Tokens of Affection, which suggests ways to be romantic with your special someone. There was also a red flocked heart ornament and an envelope box filled with 10 flavors of Jelly Belly jelly beans.

A set of heart-shaped pancake/egg molds was added. Trying to include some homemade goodness, I created this heart-shaped cupid pin, with crepe paper, lace and, of course, glitter.

And, finally, the most personal gift I included was a charm bracelet that I designed using heart charms, pieces of costume jewelry, and vintage buttons. I just love how this bracelet turned out.

I am so glad that Brenda from Memories & Treasures was my partner. I know that we were both very happy with our swap gifts. It just doesn't get any sweeter than that.

More about Me

2009-01-23T21:50:00.021-05:00

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Sara from A Shower of Roses has asked me to participate in a quick getting-to-you-know-you interview. I thought it'd be fun to participate and that perhaps my readers would like to know a little more about me.

1. How soon after high school did you and dh get married, since you were sweethearts? If you were young, do you recommend getting married young?

I met my future husband when I was a only a junior in high school. He was good friends with the boy who lived next door to me. He had already graduated and had a full-time job. After dating for five years, we got engaged on the night before my college graduation. Two years later, on June 27, 1992 I married my best friend.

At the time we were married, I was 24, which I guess is considered at the younger end of the spectrum nowadays. For me, it didn't seem young, as my hubby and I had been together for seven years already. However, if I had a 24 year-old daughter who wanted to marry a man she'd only know a short time, I think I might advise her to wait a little longer, since 24 is still pretty young.

2. I notice you like to do crafts. What's your favorite medium or outlet for your creativity?

As far as crafting goes, I would characterize myself as a 'dabbler.' In the past, I have been known to sew, knit, and crochet. More recently, I've played around with jewelry-making, creating cards, and embellishing clothes. I am intrigued by altered art, and am especially inspired to use items that I already possess or to repurpose items that I find during my thrifting expeditions.

3. What do you look for when you're out at thrift stores? And what kind do you go to besides Goodwill?

Lately, I have been drawn to 100% wool sweaters, glass jars, and costume jewelry, among other things. I also scour the book department looking for old books, particularly dictionaries, gardening texts, and poetry. There is an amazing Salvation Army Family Store that has recently opened near my home, which has quickly become my favorite thrifting destination.

4. What do you do with your finds?

I have accumulated a collection of wool sweaters, which I intend to 'felt.' Basically, this means that you machine wash and dry them, which shrinks the wool and creates a soft, furry fabric that can be used for many applications. I plan to use this felted wool for making decorative pillows, embellishing clothes and perhaps even sewing a patchwork throw blanket.

5. What do you hope to accomplish by blogging, or is it just another creative outlet?

As I have alluded to before, blogging for me has been an important part of my recovery (from chronic pain.) I've been the recipient of so much goodwill and camraderie from other bloggers. For me, blogging is about reaching out to similarly-minded individuals, sharing ideas about art, food, parenting, crafts, books, music, and everyday life. I love learning new things, and find that there are so many wonderful blogs out there. I'm only limited by a lack of time to visit them all.

**If you are a blogger, and would like to participate in a quickie Interview, please leave a note in your comment, and I will choose 5 questions for you to answer.

I Got A Package!

2009-01-21T20:01:00.034-05:00

This girl loves to receive packages. Today my Very Vintage Valentine Swap box arrived from my new blogging friend, Brenda from Texas. Her very creative blog is entitled Memories and Treasures.

Here's a look at what I got... (Sorry for the subpar photos.)

Brenda recovered and embellished this lovely journal. You cannot grasp how wonderful it is from this photograph because it does not pick up the textures and beading. I have been looking for a place to put down my thoughts. Now I have my own beautiful journal.

Inside a lovingly repurposed heart-shaped box, I found a plethora of goodies. First, there was a necklace featuring a gorgeous charm that Brenda created from glass that says "Follow Your Heart." Next, there was a tiny monogrammed bottle charm featuring my initial. And, since Brenda knew I love all things romantic and sparkly, she even included some fabulous rhinestone buttons.

But the piece de resistance was the amazing set of Valentine ornaments that sweet Brenda created for me. She decided to make me some ornaments after reading on my blog that I recently purchased a small, white tree at a post-Christmas sale. Using vintage images, glass, wire, beads, and, glitter, she made the most wonderful ornaments to adorn my white 'holiday' tree. I am so excited that I now have a way to display my tree for Valentine's day.

Oh, and how many ornaments do you think Breanda sent me? ...6? ...12? .... No, she sent 24 hand-crafted ornaments. How fantastic is that? Don't they look fabulous on my white flocked tree?

Here is a sneak peak of the package of Valentine goodies that I have put together for Brenda. (I hope she enjoys her gifts as much as I do mine.)

Do You Love Snow?

2009-01-18T20:07:00.028-05:00

I do!... Of course, I don't have to shovel anymore. But, even when I did, (before my spine began to crumble, that is) I still couldn't get enough of it.

Snow is inherently beautiful, making everything it touches appear clean and sparkly. I appreciate the way it buffers the everday sounds of the outdoors. And, a coat of freshly-fallen snow has a remarkable ability to make you want to cuddle in front of the fireplace, sharing hot chocolate.

Today, after waking to the addition of about 8 or 9 inches of the white stuff, I soon found my husband getting bundled up to go outside and (ahem) remove it. "Why do you want to ruin it?" I asked. "Doesn't it look so pretty?... Why can't everyone just leave it be and wait until it just melts away on its own?" I said half-jokingly.

He did not answer me. He just went into the garage, pulled out the snowblower, and started up that obnoxiously-loud, gas-spewing contraption...

Ooops! What's that under all that the snow in the driveway?

It's okay, I didn't feel much like reading the Sunday paper today, anyway. Luckily, the snowblower didn't shred the coupon section.

To me, this is a picture of pure beauty...

UPDATE: I just watched the evening news, and we're due to get 2-5 more inches of snow tonight. Yippee!! Keep it coming...

Wanna Laugh?

2009-01-17T10:25:00.013-05:00

This morning, I am going to share with you my favorite humor blog. It is called Cake Wrecks, and its tagline is: "When professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong." Postings on this site generally feature several examples of a 'wreck.' I just love the 'Inspiration vs. Perspiration' posts in which you are shown a photo of a beautiful inspiration cake that someone has ordered from a professional cake decorator. Quite often, they are gorgeous (and expensive) wedding cakes. Then, you scroll down to see the pathetic version that was reproduced. Click here to see what I'm talking about.

While the cakes are generally amusing enough on their own, it's the blog writer's commentary that makes me laugh out loud. Check out this post or this one for examples of Jen's witty humor."

So, if you need a laugh (and really, who doesn't?), hop on over to Cake Wrecks. And be sure to check out the Fan Favorites list in the right margin.

We Have a Winner!

2009-01-16T23:14:00.009-05:00

I wrote down the names on bits of paper. My youngest son, N. was given the honor of selecting the winning entry...

And the winner is...

Congratulations Becky! (I will email you for your mailing address.)

Thank you to all who entered my first giveaway. This was so much fun that I will be having another sweet giveaway very soon. Keep checking back in with me...

Tie One On

2009-01-16T16:05:00.032-05:00

Today, the 47th(!) edition of Fashion Friday at Big Mama's blog was all about the scarf. This piqued my interest because I have only recently become a member of the Secret Scarf Society.

Due to a recent surgery to remove herniated discs and fuse a portion of my cervical spine, I am now the lucky owner of a nasty little scar on the front of my neck. So, if there ever was a perfect opportunity to begin my scarf-wearing career, this is it.

I've always admired those women who could complete an ensemble with a fun little scarf. (Yes, Sue, you are one of them.) But, just as I've never been able to master eye shadow application, I found tying a scarf equally perplexing.

That is why Big Mama's post today is so fabulous (and timely.) At the request of the adorable Angie from Bring the Rain, Big Mama and a friend got together and made a quick video, demonstrating several ways to tie a scarf. If you are also scarf-anxious, or just want to listen to some delicious Texan accents, check out this post.

Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, here are some pics of me taken this morning. As you can see, I even tried to step it up a notch by adding my favorite fairy pin... cause I'm crazy like that...
Well, ladies, how'd I do?

*Note: Before you start feeling sorry for me... My left arm has not been amputated at the shoulder, it is (oddly, I admit) hidden behind a pillow.

Although I now feel much more accomplished in my scarf-tying skills, I still apply eye makeup like your average 8 year-old. Anyone out there in blogland willing to do a similar tutorial on the art of eye shadow? Seriously.

**REMINDER: Later this evening, I'll be picking the winner for the Cath Kidston Dream Home Journal. If you haven't already entered , click on this post and leave me a comment.

Elegance and Whimsy

2009-01-13T08:44:00.023-05:00

I'd like to share with you a great new online shoppe from Cathy of Treasured Heirlooms . The appropriately named Elegance and Whimsy is a place like no other. For those not familiar with Cathy, she is an amazing crafter, with a penchant for all things sweet, feminine, and romantic. In fact, her creations were recently featured on the cover of Romantic Homes magazine.

Please take a moment to stop by Elegance and Whimsy. I am in love with Cathy's Fairy Cakes and sweet Bon Bons, which look good enough to eat. I promise, you will truly be inspired...

One Month (and a giveaway!)

2009-01-11T21:27:00.012-05:00

It has been exactly one month since I started this blog. It's kinda like having a new baby. You can't believe he's a month old already, but you can't remember what life was like before him.

Seeking Glitter and Grace has not only allowed me the opportunity to reach out to those who helped me through my difficult days, but it's also given me something fun to look forward to each day.

I'm sure that other bloggers know what I'm talking about... the thrill of noticing that you've received a new comment on your latest post. I really love hearing from my readers. And you need not be a blogger to comment. Or have anything really poignant to say. Feel free to just say "Hello." This way I'll know that there's someone else reading this besides my sister Tammy and my good friend, Sue. (**wink)

To liven things up, and to celebrate my Blogiversary, I thought I'd host a little giveaway. All you need to do to enter is to leave a comment on this post. (If you don't have a blog, please make sure to leave your email so I'll have a way to contact you if you're the winner.)

What will you win? Well, it is a sweet book by the hugely popular Cath Kidston.

Cath Kidston Dream Home Journal -- A Style Sourcebook & Idea Organizer:

This home decor organizer and inspirational tool features eight fill-in sections easily adapted to each room of the house, and durable pockets to store swatches and clippings. Each section contains space to dream up the perfect room, create project and shopping lists, floor plans, and keep track of measurements.

Good luck to everyone. I'll pick a winner on Friday night, Jan 16. (Sorry Tammy and Sue -- but you're not eligible to win. ;)

My Word for 2009

2009-01-08T08:19:00.013-05:00

"A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow."

Laurie from TipJunkie is hosting a Word of 2009 challenge. She's asked us to think about one word that sums up what we want for ourselves in 2009. And, one person will be chosen to win a custom pendant necklace with her word for 2009, compliments of Tabetha from Reminisce Heirlooms.

There are many inspirational words that would be good choices for me - Simplify, Organize, Faith, Love, Patience. Every one of these words decribe something I need more of in my life. However, the main focus of 2009 for me is to restore my health.

2008 was not a very good year for me. It seemed like the word I chose for last year must have been PAIN. I spent the whole year in and out of doctors' offices, MRI machines, and pharmacies. Oh, and, how can I forget my bed...that is where you could find me most of the time.

After undergoing spinal surgery in May, I tried various therapies including countless PT sessions and even acupuncture. I am slowly improving, but nowhere near my former active lifestyle. Towards the end of 2008, I was starting to become a little depressed about my situation and the future.

But, as the new year begins, I have renewed focus on my health. I have a new physical therapist who not only seems very knowledgable about what is causing me continued pain, but he's also showing exercises and adjustments that I can do for myself. Today, I am feeling empowered and hopeful. I feel that this year is going to be a much better year for me.

So, to get to the point... The word I have chosen for 2009 is HEAL. I will strive to heal both my body and spirit. I plan to focus my thoughts and activities toward reaching my goal of a healthy body and mind.

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2009?

Thankful Thursday

2009-01-07T20:06:00.014-05:00

Okay, at the chance of coming across as shallow, I am not going to tell you about all the really important things that I am thankful for (such as my loving husband, wonderful children, comfortable home, etc.) No, I'm going to going to share with you the kitchen appliance in my life for which I am ever so grateful...

My hubby and I decided to take the plunge and purchase one of these Keurig single-cup coffee makers for Christmas last year. I was afraid that after a couple of months of using this new contraption, it would be relegated to one of those hard-to-reach cabinets. (You know, stuffed up there between the breadmaker and juicer.) However, not only is this still taking up prime counterspace in our kitchen, but it's probably the most used appliance we own. (Although the toaster-oven is definately a very close second.)

We usually have no less than 6 varieties of coffee, as well as several teas and hot chocolate. It's perfect for homes where a "flavored-coffee" drinker resides with someone who likes his coffee "just strong and black." Or where one family member likes his coffee in the morning, another prefers it in the afternoon, while still another only drinks hot chocolate.

The Keurig makes it easy to have a hot drink whenever you like. There's no concern about making a whole pot of coffee, when all that is needed is one quick cup. I think the fact that it's so quick and easy to prepare a variety of hot beverages, combined with the fact that there's no clean-up required makes this coffee maker a real winner in my book.

Please don't take away my magazines

2009-01-07T17:23:00.053-05:00

At the moment, I receive approximately 10 magazine subscriptions. (Reality check: Half of them were free, okay?) This does not include the issues that I pick up at our local library which has a drop-off area where people are able to donate their used magazines and purchase additional ones for just 25 cents. Also, I have a good friend who's a hairdresser, and she's always giving me stacks of magazines from her salon. So, it's fair to say I have bit of a magazine addiction. I just love the feel of the glossy paper, the sound of the pages turning, and especially the scent of a brand new magazine.

Unfortunately, two of my favorite magazines have very recently ceased publishing. The first one, is hands-down my absolute favorite magazine. I have been a subscriber for over ten years, and have even collected back issues through eBay. To say that I'm a huge fan of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion would not be an exaggeration.

For those who are not familiar with this awesome publication, it's not filled with the black checkerboard, teapots and cherries designs that many associate with Mary Engelbreit. The styles that are shown in the magazine are quite varied. In each issue, artists and their studios are featured, as well as eclectic homes that exude warmth and creativity. Articles include many different subjects such as crafts, home decorating, flea markets, and even recipes.

I treasure every single issue of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion in my collection. Every few months, I will pull out all the Home Companion back issues that coincide with that season. (I store them by season, not chronologically.) I'll make myself a cup of tea and devour each issue.

The other magazine I'm sad to be losing is very different from the first. I've only subscribed to Radar for a year, but it has quickly become one of the few that actually I read from cover to cover. It's subject matter is "Pop, Politics, Scandal, and Style." Radar magazine features articles which are very current, entertaining, and most importantly, hilariously funny.

To make matters worse, is the fact that I just renewed both subscriptions. I signed up for two more years of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion. (Oh yeah, I got a great deal on that, alright.) At MaryEngelbreit.com, there's just a simple statement about how "Home Companion is seeking a new publishing partner." Nothing about what subscribers can do to get their money back. I haven't received a reply from the email I sent over a month ago regarding a refund. As for Radar, even though they sent me a renewel request for a subscription they knew they had no intention of fulfilling, they have not offered me a refund. No, instead, I can choose to receive either Star, Men's Fitness, or Shape magazines. ...What?! This isn't the remainder of a subscription we're talking about, it's a whole year's subscription. If I wanted any of those other magazines, wouldn't I have signed up to get them in the first place? Duh!

This isn't the first time this has happened to me either. A few years ago, another favorite magazine of mine was Budget Living. It was stylish, environmentally green, and full of frugal living ideas. It was a really cool magazine that I expected would command a pretty strong following. But this publication has also gone to magazine heaven...

Is it just me? Do I have a penchant for selecting periodicals that are just about to be axed? Or is this happening to other magazine aficionados out there? It makes me especially mad that of all the magazines I receive, my two favorites are the ones being discontinued. I mean, if I could only choose two to keep receiving, Home Companion and Radar would be my choices.

...Well, of course, I do really like my Hallmark magazine. ...And, I love poring over the photos in Country Living. ...then, there's Martha Stewart's Everday Food magazine, which has recipes that are both delicious and easy...

Wanna Swap?

2009-01-05T22:38:00.019-05:00

Do you want to know what I just found out?...
There are lots of bloggers who are into swapping.
Really, it's true... And I think I'm ready to try it out myself.
(And, yes, my husband is cool with it...how do you like that?)

The first swap I signed up for is the Very Vintage Valentine Swap. It is being hosted by Heidi at Foxgloves, Fabric, and Folly. Each swapper will be paired with another. Come early February, each will have received a sweet package of Valentine goodies. Now, who doesn't like getting gift packages from the postman?

I also was intrigued by this swap...

The Little Tokens of Love Swap is another Valentine-themed swap hosted by www.primandwhimsy.com. The guidelines are very simple:

"You can create any heart shaped, handcrafted, valentines item - and use any medium and any colors you like- as long as the finished piece is small enough to fit into a 5X5 inch box."

How fun is that? Each of us will create a fun heart-shaped gift, and, in turn, will receive a Valentine creation of our own. If you're interested, there's still time to sign up. Just visit the Prim & Whimsy Girls.

Special Guest Post

2009-01-04T20:04:00.037-05:00

Yesterday, my youngest son, N. asked me if he could have his own blog. Really. Our children are definately growing up in a technology-driven world. But, a blog at age 7? Absolutely not. However, I did tell him I'd 'feature' him on my blog every once in awhile. So, here is his first guest post...

Here he is setting up his Neopet collection on my bed. Which, of course, leads to jumping on the bed...

As a matter of fact, N. is quite the collector. He collects all sort of miscellaneous things, as you can see in the following photo. Somewhere underneath all of that stuff is his bedside table.

Did you notice a disposable bathroom cup taped to the front, right-side of the table? Let's take a closer look at that...

Umm, yeah, N. has a 'Lead collection.' Well, actually it's graphite really, you know the tips that break off a pencil. They're really quite collectible, these days.

Oh, and he has joined the big-boy world now, as he has his very own alarm clock, named Mr. Egg.

Well, that's enough of a post for today. N. has school tomorrow, so he must be getting off to dreamland. Before we go, he'd like to leave you with a self-portrait...

.....................Sweet Dreams, Buddy!..................

My Wish for You

2009-01-01T21:29:00.013-05:00

I wish for you, in 2009, what I desire for myself...

Health…

So you may enjoy each day in comfort
and live a full and rewarding life

Love...

whether it be the passion of a romantic relationship
or the affection and companionship of dear friends

Time...

to savor precious moments with loved ones
and to relish the abundant beauty in Nature

Wisdom...

to balance the varied aspects of your life
and make choices which enhance your journey

Peace...

a sense of contentment within your heart
and a purity in your devotion to the Lord

Joy...

the ability to delight in everyday celebration
and enjoy bursts of creative inspiration

Happy 2009!

Best Christmas Gift Ever!

2008-12-30T17:43:00.017-05:00

Although I'm not allowed to say exactly which member of my family received this (most thoughtful) gift, I can tell you that our entire family is lovin' it.

What was this fabulous gift, you ask?

What could make a whole family smile and sigh with relief?

Well, it's just a little toiletry item that no home should be without...

It's called Poo~Pourri, people. And. It's. Amazing. I mean, this stuff really works. How, you may ask? Well, according to their website Poopourri.net:

..."Our natural essential oils create a film on the surface of the water, trapping odor at it's source. A citrus fresh blend of Lemon-grass, Bergamot, Grapefruit and other natural essential oils that leave the bathroom smelling clean and fresh!"

You just spray a few squirts of this magic potion into the water prior to...well, you know...you GO.

It comes in 3 sizes (2, 4, and 8 oz). And the packaging is so cool! The addition of a 'P' charm to the bottle is just too much. There's even a sweet travel-sized atomizer, and a toilet paper gift set available.

Best of all: They offer a 30 Day Unconditional Money Back Guarantee. But, you won't be needing that. Because Poo~Pourri actually does what it promises!

And who would expect less from a product with the tag line: "Forever changing the bathroom experience?"

To the creators of this fine product, you have my family's heartfelt gratitude.

Note: I have no financial interest in the company. However, if they'd like to send me some free products, I won't turn them away.

A Little After-Christmas Shopping

2008-12-29T20:17:00.022-05:00

I wanted to pick up a few additional Christmas decorations for next year. I just love post-holiday sales. Signs proclaiming 60%, 75%, and even 90% off just lure me in. Unfortunately, I have been having more bad days than good this week (see My First Post if you don't know why.) So, I haven't been out hitting the sales as much as I'd like.

I did pop into JC Penney though, and purchased these ornaments for less than $5 combined...

I found this small, glittered 'Peace' sign just prior to Christmas at JoAnn's, since their decorations were already discounted 60%. This is something that I'll probably display year-round. I think I'm going to add a nicer ribbon first. It's super sparkly...which you know I just adore.

I also scored a 30-inch white, wire tree with flocking (also from JCP) for 75% off. The branches are similar to chenille and it has a cool wood base...

If I'm going to do any more After-Christmas shopping, I think I'll shop for more vintage decorations on eBay. I really like the look of old items, but also feel better about buying items already in existence. You know...Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Blue Christmas

2008-12-29T16:52:00.011-05:00

Our beloved Lhasa Apso, Murphy, had a blue Christmas this year...

Yup, my sweet lil' puppy got hold of a pen and chewed it up. Luckily, it was erasable ink. But, have you ever tried to erase a dog? My hubby gave him a bath, which only seemed to make the blue splotches larger. And all the favorite spots of his body to lick, well, now they're blue as well...

Does anyone have suggestions on how to cure the puppy 'blues'?

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T23:59:00.011-05:00

I wish everyone a joyous, grace-filled, and peaceful Christmas.

Christmas Decor (Better Late than Never)

2008-12-21T15:43:00.058-05:00

It's December 21, and I just finished decorating for Christmas. I promised myself that I will start much earlier next year. I didn't even put up a lot of the decorations I have. Still, I'm pretty happy with the way it's turned out.

Snowmen and apocathary jars surround the antique wavy-glass window...

I love this tree which is a great way to display some of my vintage ornaments.

This is a shot of our very simple nativity set. It has special meaning to me since my sister-in-law gave it to us for our first Christmas as newlyweds. She passed away from breast cancer 12 years ago. I can't believe she's been gone so long.

This is a simple vignette atop our bookcase. I made the vintage ornament wreath hanging on the wall a couple of years ago. A small collection of tiny, vintage wooden ornaments are grouped beneath a glass cloche.

Here is a close-up ... a bit difficult to see because of the glass.

This pretty glittered angel is actually a Christmas card I received last year. I thought it was so sweet that I decided to place it in a bejeweled frame in order to display it.

These two shelves make use of a blank wall space between the living and dining rooms. I enjoy filling them with objects representing the various holidays/seasons.

I added just a few holiday touches to the kitchen...

Our kitchen Christmas tree is decorated with tiny sugared pear ornaments, aluminum holiday cookie cutters, and other food-related tidbits.

There are several miniature gates hanging in our kitchen, which I've adorned with tiny wreaths.

On Friday, my children had a snow day, and we decorated gingerbread houses. I've found a formula that works best for us:
3 children = 3 gingerbread houses

This is one of the more recent additions to our holiday decor - a vintage jewelry Christmas tree. Apparently, this was a common craft during the 60's or 70's. The background is velvet, and various pieces of costume jewelry and colorful beads are added in the shape of a tree. (I purchased mine on eBay.)

Our tree is fairly simple. I've been visiting others' blogs and think I'd like to have a more ornately decorated tree next Christmas. I'll definately be visiting the post-Christmas sales this year.

Here is one of the angel ornaments I created for a craft fair long ago. Can you see her feet? They are tiny jingle bells.

On a little shelf in the powder room...

Not only did I just complete my decorating, but I only ordered my photo Christmas cards this afternoon ... Yes, on December 21! They will (hopefully) be ready first thing tomorrow morning. Will they be delivered in time for Christmas? Oh, I do hope so...

Yummy Homemade Marshmallows

2008-12-17T21:06:00.025-05:00

What sounds yummier than soft, fluffy, homemade marshmallows? I recently purchased this Martha Stewart special magazine because it has a whole section on felted wool projects (more on that later...)

And, it had a recipe for homemade marshmallows. I've always wanted to try my hand at making them. So, I gathered all the ingredients...

Mixed those ingredients together...

Spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet...

Let it set overnight, and then began cutting...

I wanted to make all sorts of sweet shapes using cookie cutters, but soon decided that square marshmallows are much easier...

It was actually quite easy. I'll definately make them again.

Hot chocolate will never be the same at our house...

UPDATE: The recipe can also be found at www.marthastewart.com. Just search for marshmallow snowflakes.

Gingerbread Castle

2008-12-14T15:06:00.041-05:00

This was on display in a hotel lobby where I stayed this weekend. Isn't it just amazing? I tried to take some close-ups so you could see the details.

And, to top it off, this gingerbread masterpiece smelled fantastic.

New Boots!

2008-12-14T14:50:00.001-05:00

I have always wanted to own a pair of high-heeled boots. I just think they're so fun and, well, sexy. Thanks to my hubby, now I've got a pair.

Today's Goodwill Wares

2008-12-11T21:57:00.001-05:00

I love shopping at thrift stores, and I particularly fancy my local Goodwill. Today I stopped in and found some Christmas decorations. Here's what I snagged...

This was an envelope filled with unused Christmas cards. There are 21 sweet cards with lovely vintage images which will be perfect for altered art projects. All for just 39 cents. Here are some of my favorite cards...

I also got some sparkly glass ornaments, some old, some newer. (Some Shiny Brites!)

And an Oneida silverplate bowl (still in its original box)for displaying some of my vintage ornaments. Just 99 cents. Do I just rub it with silver polish? Advice anyone?

Oh, and I scored a pair of black Ann Taylor Loft jeans. (Yippee!) I forgot to photograph them. There in the washing machine as we speak.
Have I told you that I heart Goodwill?

My Very First Post...

2008-12-11T11:43:00.002-05:00

I want to begin by saying a very warm THANK YOU to the many lovely bloggers out there. I wish I could convey to each and every one of you just how inspirational I have found the blogging community. I have a HUGE list of favorite blogs (which keeps growing by the day.) My faves include numerous homemaking blogs, crafting blogs, cooking blogs, decorating blogs, frugal-living blogs, mommy blogs, fashion blogs, etc. The blogs I find myself following the closest happen to be those in which the author simply shares her(his)everday life, which usually encompasses a mix of all these subjects.

Discovering and following the blogs of others has been a lifsaver for me. I really mean that. You see, for over a year now, I have been suffering from chronic pain due to degenerative disc disease. In May 2008, I underwent surgery to have 2 discs removed in my neck. It was a fairly intense operation in which my neurosurgeon replaced the damaged discs with cadaver (yes, cadaver!) bone, and fixed it all together with a small titanium plate and screws. Well, although the surgery helped my deteriorating spine, the constant pain in my neck, upper back, arms and hands remains.

During this dificult time in my life, I have interacted with many in the blogging community. I have received several emails thanking me for my comments. I have been given advice and encouragement when I expressed my desire to start my own blog. I have even won a couple of lovely handmade gifts through generous giveaways. I'd like to let the blogging community know that I am so very grateful. Many a night of pain and sadness was made much more bearable since I was able to visit your blogs. Even as many of you were asleep in your beds, you provided me with inspiration, laughter, camaraderie, and company.

My blog will most likely be a mishmash of all the things I find interesting, inspirational, or just plain fun. Don't worry...I don't intend to be a downer. I wish for this blog to be an escape from my chronic pain. I sure hope you'll find this blog a wonderful place to visit and that you'll check in with me from time to time.