Mid week update...

So much to catch you up on. Saturday, I went running around with my daughter. We were in Target and I was looking at towels. I stumbled across this bath mat. I love my bubble bath but can't find a good pillow to lean on while I read. I saw this Bath Lounge Mat at Target for $20. This has been added to my wish list. I am going to have to get one of these. 

I looked at plants at Walmart. I am going to need some plants for my new office, especially in the corner with my desk and my file credenza meet. I am thinking a palm but don't know. These prices were really good at Walmart.

Sunday we had my oldest grandson's birthday at the Blue Moose. The food was delicious and we all had a great time. Most importantly, I got some pics of my family. Here is the birthday boy, my first grandchild, Garret. He turned 15. 

My second grandchild, Caleb, is 10 and will be 11 in just a couple of months. 

Next is my third grandchild who was my first granddaughter, Alexis. She is 9 1/2. They are growing up too fast. 

This is my fourth grandchild, Shelby. She is 5 1/2.

This is my fifth grandchild, Colby. He is 3 and he is a character as I'm sure you can tell by the mischievous little smile.

This is my son, Chris, and his wife, Jamie. They are the parents of Garret, Alexis and Colby.

  

This is my daughter, Diana, and her husband, Michael. They are the parents of Caleb and Shelby.

It is so hard to get all The Grands together in one picture so I decide to split the group up. Her I am with my beautiful granddaughters.

And here are my handsome grandsons. Garret is going through the I don't smile for pictures phase. I can't believe how tall he is getting. And Caleb isn't far behind. They are both going to tower over their poor old short mamaw. 

Monday night was the county VBS training for our bible school in June. The theme is secret agents as we learn to Discover, Decide, Defend. 

After coming back from VBS meeting, I started gathering things around the house that I want to use for decor in my new office. 

Tuesday night I decide to catch up on some baking. I made a chocolate cake for my friend Stevie. We do a lot of bartering and I owed her this for a dishtowel she made me. 

I haven't made my son any goodies in awhile and I asked what he would like to have and he picked no bake oatmeal cookies so I got up this morning and made him a batch. 

I am getting ready to start some craft projects (yes, Rachel, I will finish yours before I start new ones.) I was going through my yarn and found some more pastels for spring. I think I will make some coasters or an Easter basket. 

I found this yarn I had bought a while back. The label says it all.

The ultra stiff plastic canvas is getting harder and harder to find. I am down to my last three sheets. I need to check at AC Moore and see if they have any more in stock.

A few weeks ago, I got this little appointment book but had never started using it. I sat down and got all my upcoming appointments caught up in it.

I love it because it is landscape format instead of portrait. I also love all the little places for notes. 

And last but not least, I experimented with something to clean my canvas tennis shoes. If you wear canvas tennis shoes, you know how dirty they can get and just regular washing still leaves a faint shadow of any stains from daily wear. So I experimented. I have new detergent I am trying out and I love it. It is Arm and Hammer with OxyClean. I took that and mixed in some Dawn because they say blue Dawn is great for stains. I added some Peroxide because they say that is great for stains and I put in a cup of carpet shampoo from my shampooer because it is great on carpet stains. The result was some really clean white tennis shoes. I am very easy on shoes. These are three years old and I wear them every summer (when I'm not in flip flops) and I think they look fabulous. Very happy with my concoction.

How is your week going so far?

Top 10 I spy with my little eye....

This weeks Top 10 features items I have seen advertised on Craig's List at local Estate Sales that were either on a day I couldn't go or were too far away. But these are things I would have been interested in had I been able to attend.

1. I have one of these vintage utility carts in the wood grain look but I am looking for one either red or blue. I know I could paint the one I have, but I am just not a painter. If I don't find it in red or blue I may think about that though. I would also check out the little wicker picnic basket setting beside the cart.



2. I collect Santa's and there are quite a few in here that caught my eye. I normally don't think to shop for Christmas in the spring and summer. But when I see blogs where other people use the cutest little things at Christmas that they found at yard sales, it makes me wish I had done the same thing.

3. I fell in love with the little yellow ducks in this picture (over to the left). I would love to come across some of those this summer.

4. The red plaid file box caught my eye. I love anything vintage that is red and black, even though I don't collect it. I was also trying to figure out if the light blue container was Tupperware. I don't remember them having blue, but that looks like their ice cream keeper.

5. And I just love this chair. I would like to find one like it and paint it for my craft room.

6. Check out the vintage watering can. I would love to have that to put a planter in for the front porch.



7. I love the old cast iron pans. They are become quite collectible in some areas and the resale value is unreal.



8.  I love this old vintage jar. It would be cute to fill with buttons for my craft room.



9. I love this dessert set. I guess it is similar to a truffle bowl. I would love to make my Reese peanut butter brownie trifle in this.



10. I love juice glasses and especially any with fruit on them. This little glass caught my fancy.



Well, that's my top 10 for today.  Have a great day.

Happy birthday to my oldest grandson...

How did we go from this......

To this.....

In just 15 short years. 

I miss the adorable little boy he was. Full of smiles and giggles. 

I miss the snuggling on the couch and playing in the yard.

I miss the helping Mamaw in the kitchen.

But at the same time, my heart swells with pride at the young man he is becoming. He is polite and courteous. He has his own unique sense of humor. He is one of a kind. And he still loves spending time with me and coming over for visits. He is my first grandchild and will always hold a very special place in my heart. So while I watch him grow into the man he will become, my heart still misses those days of his little boy smile.

Happy 15th birthday to my first grandson, Garret. We love you.

Sunday Smiles...

Shameless promotion.....

I am a chocoholic. Many of you who know me are very aware of my obsession with chocolate.

I have a friend who does appliques and creates beautiful items like pillow cases, tote bags, peasant tops, Easter basket liners...just all sorts of goodies. Here is one of her adorable Easter basket liners.

You will note it is full of chocolate. She is holding a contest on her Facebook site, Stevie Marie's. People got to submit a family photo and whichever photo gets the most likes on her page, wins the basket. Well, you know I had to enter a photo. I put in the one of me and Papaw with all our grandchildren. It is so natural because nobody is "posed". Lots of laughter, good times and Papaw trying to get out of the picture as usual. 

I am in the lead right now but only by one. I am hoping that you will visit her Facebook page and like this photo to help me win the basket of goodies. Feel free to share the link with your friends as well. Simply visit this link to Stevie Marie's and click Like on this photo.

Lovely, just lovely.

I am usually very predictable. I love floral patterns and when given a choice, will go with floral on anything. A couple of weeks ago, I had a Thirty-One Open House where I was the hostess. I had a good turn out on orders and earned some lovely free products. I was wanting a new bag and accessories to use on trips. Everyone I know expected me to go with one of the new floral patterns, but I surprised everyone, even myself by going with a different pattern.

One of the new patterns this spring is called Navy Wave and I wondered if I would really like it or not. Since, you know, it's not floral. But I took a chance and ordered my freebies in this new pattern. Well, it arrived yesterday and let me just say.... My Oh My! I ordered the new bag with my initial on it because I love to have my signature B on everything. I wanted hot pink so it would pop. I am thrilled with the result.

I also won a medium thermal zipper pouch to go with it. 

Since I plan to travel with these bags, I thought this would be good to toss some snacks in since it is thermal. I won't have to worry about my Junior Mints melting.

I ordered a Pocket-A-Tote to match. I have never had one of these and wasn't sure how it would work. 

It has this little snapped strapped on the back of it.  

You simply unsnap the snaps.

And feed each strip through the grommets in your bag (it fits all the utility bags in Thirty-One)

Pull the all the way through the grommets and snap the straps back together.

It blends in well with the outside to the bag since it is color coordinating.

Now my bag has a nice neat zipper pocket inside it. 

This is great for all those little items I need that I don't want just piling up lose in the bottom of the bag. 

I already had these items from a previous party. A little mini zipper pouch and a wristlet.

Everything fits very nicely in one bag. I am ready for my trip.

Isn't it all lovely, just lovely?

It just takes one little thing...

Somehow I left Wednesday slip right by without a blog post. I started one yesterday morning and ran out of time. I was going to finish it after work, but never got the chance. As you know, we are getting new office at work. Our boss bought furniture back in December and we haven't seen it yet. Until yesterday. The long awaited day arrived and it was delivered. No pics yet because I'm waiting till we move in. But oh my it was lovely. I have a nice new U shaped desk along with a matching credenza.

You will recall the photo of my settee that was in the back of hubby's truck? I am not sure if it will fit in the new office or not now that I've seen the size of my new furniture. So I had hubby bring it in the house temporarily until I figure out what to do.

I was just going to set it in my home office for now. But there is a little alcove area at the door to my office and the angle of it does not allow the settee to go in there. So hubby decided we could put it in the living room for now. Which triggered what do we do with the spare chair. Which triggered moving it to my bedroom. Which triggered moving some furniture around. Which triggered me having to dust. Which I do not like to do. All of this as soon as I got home from work. Needless to say I wasn't a real happy camper, but I am thrilled to have my settee back home with me.