My First Award!

This is a big moment for me and anybody out there who's ever received a comment from me will know why. I just received my very first award! This friendship award came to me from Ldydy from http://rosescakespearls.blogspot.com/ and she is one of the most genuine and sincere ladies that I've been blogging with since I began only a few weeks ago. When I first started blogging and seeing all of your wonderful blogs, I became intrigued at these "awards" and how many some of you have accumulated! So it comes as no surprise that this is a monumental occasion for me - the person who gets so ridiculously happy just to receive a comment from any of you! So thank you so much Ldydy for this very humbling award! I am so grateful and will happily pass on this sweet award.

Description: "Let's Be Friends"
“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.” Also put a link to their blogs and then let them know they have been selected!

These extraordinary women reached right out to me when I started blogging so I'm delighted to bestow this award on them to show my sincere appreciation.

Kristen at Kristen's Creations - http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/
Betty at Daydream World - http://daydreamnworld.blogspot.com/
Nancy at Home is the Heart's Nesting Place - http://southernlady-nancy.blogspot.com/
Tracy at A Comfy Little Place of My Own - http://comfylittleplace.blogspot.com/
Kimm at Reinvented - http://reinventedkb.blogspot.com/
Silver at One Day at a Time - http://1dayatatime-silver.blogspot.com/

Thank you girls!! You are the Best!!! And thanks again Ldydy!!!!

Flaunting My Red!!!!

I don't have much red around my home, which is surprising because I love the color red - it goes so well with other colors, like yellow (have you seen Kristen's home?? GORGEOUS!), white, sage green, gold. During my search I was able to find a few things like this cookbook/recipe binder I got as a gift from my sweet Mother-in-Law.


I just purchased this vase last week (remember my post about my shopping spree?). It came from Ross, one of my favorite places to shop for accessories. It's more rust than red, but I'm gonna count it anyway!


I have to brag a little about this next one. I just love this rug. It's in my kitchen beneath the table and chairs and it's a nice contrast to the olive walls. But the best part is, I paid just $20 for it at Lowes (they have awesome clearance stuff). It measures 5' x 6' girls!!! $20!!!!
Chloe's butt made an appearance for the pic (she's such a ham!).


Last but not least is this lamp shade from WalMart! I put the tassel on there for good measure (and it's red!).

My Norman Rockwell Moment

Yesterday, while going about my day, in between folding laundry, checking my blog, cooking dinner, reading my blog, tidying up the house, reading your blog, taking out the trash, envying your blog, and picking up the 9 millionth thing off the floor (a shoe, a sock, a dirty dish, an empty juice box, etc. you get the picture) I stopped in my tracks to see what will forever be imbedded in my brain and what I like to call, my Norman Rockwell moment. You see, up here in New Jersey, we've had an unusually cold winter, a bad flu season and what seems like a gizillion days off of school! Add them up and you get two cooped up siblings that are at best, too close for comfort. So when I glanced over and saw my two sweet, adorable angels quietly doing their homework at the kitchen table together (this never happens) I had no choice but to snap a picture and save it for posterity. And also to share it with all of you. These blissful moments are few and far between. Don't get me wrong, my children don't hate eachother. In fact, most times they adore eachother. It's just that this winter has seemed to go on for an eternity with no end in sight and we are all suffering from a case of cabin fever. So I have to take these moments and run with them.



Before I go I just want to remind you that tomorrow is Flaunt Your Red Friday hosted by Nancy at Southern Lady (her blog has a new name, but I forget what it is at the moment, but she can still be found at Southern Lady) AND she is having a giveaway. So don't forget to sign up and I'm off in search of something red!

WOYWW!

Okay, so this is my first time participating in one of these things - took me a while (and some help from Hubby) to get the hang of it. So, I will keep it simple so as not to drive myself crazy (it being my first time and all). By keeping it simple, I mean that I am just using the pic from my blog heading!!LOL
Well, it is a new pic AND I just put this wallscape together and am quite pleased with it. So this is what's on my bedroom wall (not very masculine, I know, but Hubby is secure in his manhood.
So, the WOYWW Virgin presents:

Shopped 'til I Dropped!!!

Yesterday was payday, so you know what that means! I went shopping!!!! I went someplace I've been meaning to get to for a long time, but just hadn't gotten around to it - Homegoods. I knew it was going to be a successful excursion when I starting filling my cart the second I got there. I even had a list with me, but that went right out the window when I started spotting things I knew I just HAD to have (yes, I broke my rule again:(...oh well).

I got this for my Dining Room table since it was time to put away the poinsettia.


This adorable apple found a new home on top of my hutch in the kitchen.


I fell in love with this embroidered pillow, so I did the sensible thing and bought two! They found a home on my two Dining Room arm chairs.


And last but not least, I found these beautiful mirrors and used them to make a wallscape in my master bedroom. I love how it turned out.


I then moved my hope chest from the foot of the bed to under the wallscape. I just thought it belonged there.


More on the bedroom. I decided to show more pix of the master makeover. Aside from the headboard, we decided to keep the rest of the set and I painted it cottage white. It changed the whole flow of the room.




Now, before I go I have to share something with you. One of my favorite bloggers, Nancy over at Southern Lady (just click on my bloglist) makes these gorgeous handmade tassels and I ordered one from her Etsy store, Nancyrosalina. Isn't it just adorable on my kitchen hutch? Anyone who loves to decorate (and don't we all?) knows that a tassel can go just about anywhere, so go check out her store! Thanks Nancy!!

Master Makeover

This headboard was part of a bedroom set that was a wedding gift from my wonderful In-Laws. It served us well for over 15 years, but hubby and I decided it was time to let it go (my first sale on Craigslist!).

After agonizing for about 3 weeks (that's not long for me!) I came up with this concoction.

My hubby was all too happy to oblige and made it exactly to my specifications. It turned out exactly as I had envisioned it. I then shattered his pride in his craftsmanship by adding some Shabby Chic accents. That is where you all come in. Please tell me what you think and don't be afraid! I have visited all of your blogs and I value all of your opinions greatly.

Thanks!!

Kim

At least Chloe is feeling good!  She just got back from the beauty parlor!!!

Winter Blues!

I don't know what things are like around the rest of the country, but here in the Mid-Atlantic region everybody is sick!  Everywhere you turn it seems like someone is talking about a family member, friend, co-worker who is sick.  Stomach Virus, Bronchitis, Flu, Cold - you name it, and someone's got it.  Even schools are closing!  My daughter Mallory has missed school all week with Bronchitis.  Poor thing, I've been trying to keep her occupied, but all she wants to do is veg.  We are SO ready for Spring!!!  

Our Home

These are the rest of the pictures from A.C.  The watershow at The Pier was awesome - the kids really liked that.  And a view of the shore from Starbucks inside The Pier.  Happy Birthday my sweet baby!!

This was at It's Sugar inside The Pier at Caesars.  Talk about a kid in a candy store!!!

Amy's Birthday

Yesterday the family went to Atlantic City for the day to celebrate Amy's 9th Birthday!  We took her BFF Katie along which made it extra special for my girl.  Here are some pix of us at the Rainforest Cafe at Caesars on the Boardwalk.

Family Album