Notes from A Cottage Industry

Moving back.

2012-02-24T00:05:00.004-08:00

So.

I guess you could say I've come full circle. 

My sweet lil' blog is moving back home, over at typepad, where it all began, way back in 2006. You'll find all of my future posts (and all the way back to the beginning!)....

 here.

Please update my URL address on your blog roll if you have me listed, or  grab my button from my new (Old? New? Old-new?) blog. I want to thank everyone that reads my  blog. I appreciate you and love hearing from you!

Welcome to the Family Room.

2012-02-23T09:22:00.003-08:00

This picture totally reminds me of that old, old song from My Fair Lady, "Wouldn't it be Loverly?" You know,"...All I want is a room somewhere, far away from the cold night air, with one enormous chair...Aow, wouldn't it be loverly?..." Yup, makes me wanna curl up right there (right now) with a cuppa cocoa and my laptop....

Anyway.

That photo up above is to let you see a peek, a morsel, a cozy lil'corner of our home. Mmmm hmm, I am finally, at long last, ready to share a few Before  and After pictures of another room in the house! (Can I get a drum roll  please?) Without further adieu, I give you....

The Family Room.

Wait. 

(I'm getting ahead of myself.) 

Let's see a shot of it..Before.

Before I lived here, when it was Bachelor Pad Central.

Functional.

Organized, with no shortage of audio equipment, old or new.

After...with the newly installed oh-so-terribly-wonderful-and-worth-every-penny slide-by shutters (in the open position)....
...and, with the shutters closed....

Oh! I cannot tell you just how much I am loving these slide-by (that's what I call them, anyway)wood shutters! I personally think sling glass doors are the biggest challenge in the window treatment arena, because they need to be functional, and supply privacy, and energy efficiency, and look good all at the same time, you know? Anyway, I think these babies do it fabulously.

Yes, the whirlwind remodel was so worth working around little inconveniences like no television or internet for a couple of weeks...(I swear I'd do it all again in a new York minute!)
Let's take one last look at the After shot one more time, shall we?....(Notice please the old bi-fold shutters are re-purposed over behind the chair to cozy up the corner of the room, and the audio equipment is still intact and ready to be used at a moment's notice...)

I hope you're enjoying the tour of our what's-old-is-new-re-born-cozy-and-warm home.
Next stop? The kitchen!(Okay, you can all stop reading here.)

*Dearest Guitar Man of my dreams,

I just want to say Thank you...for being such a Team Player and stretching yourself ginormously outside of your comfort zone. I know this was all huge for you, and I want you to know just how much I love that you did this for me!*

Catching up.

2012-02-21T08:42:00.004-08:00

Well. 

It's been another long stretch without a post. I know. Try as I may, life has been ca-razy busy, and, well... 

Let's catch up, shall we?

Far too much has been going on to cover it all in one lil' blog post, so I'll just cover a couple of the highest points.

Let's see. Where do I start?

Work has been busy, with me prepping for a project I have been working on, which included quite a few evenings at home tweaking handouts, and creating props. (And you know how I love a project like that!)

We got the Sewing Queen all semi-settled in up here and she is in the middle of unpacking moving boxes and trying to find some of her sewing accessories as I type this. We are thrilled to have her here!

Then, I spent this past weekend with my two daughters, celebrating a milestone birthday for Carter and Coen's Mama. (How can she be 30 when I am only 42?!) We had a fabulous Girl's Weekend, complete with an overnight trip to the Allison Resort and Spa for some much appreciated foofifying and relaxing, laughing our heads off, as well as a marathon shopping expedition, and eating way too much.

On the home remodel front, our projects are getting buttoned down and things are looking aaaaah-mazing! 

Let me interupt myself here to say that my Rock n' Roll Buddy deserves a shout out here. He has been the driving force behind making this fabulous make over happen in record time, not to mention being the ultimate egg-McMuffin of bargain shopping, swinging some of the most eye popping price deals I have ever seen. Now, this is extra hard to picture if you know him, as the house has been in the exact same state as when he first moved in, back in the 80's. (We are not talking about a guy that typically embraces change here, people.)It's truly been a fun time and we are both pretty thrilled with the outcome.

Now, back to my post...

I have been waiting to share pictures because the plantation shutters took three weeks to be made. Since we were having them installed in every room,(pinch me!!!) there was no way to really capture any room without it looking undone due to a window without anything on it. (Unless you count the sheet we swagged across the living room window to shield us from the sun while we watched the Superbowl.)

Anyway.

The exciting installation was yesterday, and so I am gearing up to share our grand reveal. (Doesn't that sound dramatic? Trust me, the change is incredible and we both keep saying how it feels like we live in a brand new house.)

Here's a lil' peek at the installation process in the family room. The sliding doors got "Slide-By" shutters and my-oh-my! I adore them! The look of plantation shutters with the ease of sliding them open to go in and out the door, or let cool air in in the summer time!......

We're down to the accessorizing stage now, and I must say, that is my most favorite part of decorating. You know, adding touches that reflect our personalities really warms up a room. I can't wait to show you everything...room..by room..by room!

Men at work!

2012-02-09T22:36:00.000-08:00

I have so much to share after being without internet service for two weeks, that it's tough to figure out what to share when.

I realized after beginning my home re-no tour that I had skipped sharing one of my little Grand's Birthday party...so here it is!

 The party theme was construction, so my daughter began at the front door....

....and continued all through the downstairs. The treats were construction themed as well...

...and everyone was given a tool apron and a hard hat!

More pictures from Coen's party are over on the birthday boy's Mommy's blog!

On another note, I won't be posting for a couple of days, as I am flying with Mrs. Big Dog to the Biggest Little City today and driving back up to the Pacific Northwest tomorrow...why? The Sewing Queen of Northern Nevada is relocating up here to live!

The Loo.

2012-02-08T00:09:00.000-08:00

I know. It's a rather unusual spot to begin the re-no tour, but I've got to start somewhere and this guest bath is currently one of my favorite lil' places in the house.

It went from being a generic 1980's guest bath....

.....to being much more of a charming little space, don't you think?

This was the only room in the house that we painted a color instead of the creamy shade of off-white that we did in the rest of the house. I will readily admit that the color I chose didn't come out exactly as I imagined. I was shooting for a warm-ish putty tone, but with the bathroom being in the center of the house with no windows for natural light, it gives off a hint of a lavender undertone when the halogen light in the toilet-tub area is turned on, rather than the heat lamp. I think I'll live with the color for a few weeks and then decide whether it will stay or get a second coat of something else. (Aaah, the beauty of paint. So affordable to change and try out...)

The old mirror was a large sheet mirror that had seen better days, so we replaced it with a fabulous mirror that Ralph already had here at the house. It compliments the new brushed nickel light fixture we snagged on clearance at good ol' Home Depot....

A few little details here and there and a spash of white with the towels and shower curtain (I just love Target for bath things, don't you?) 

I'm still on the lookout for something adorable to hang above the towel bar, but for now I printed a quote I like and framed it in an old frame I had so the space wouldn't look too bare...

I've got a few more ideas up my sleeve for this bathroom,(Brushed nickel drawer pulls and knobs, and a pom-pom rug I saw and didn't buy last trip...) but I think we're off to a pretty good start...updates will be coming as the room evolves!

Move over, Nate Berkus.

2012-02-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

Move over, Nate Berkus...'coz Ralph is in da house, and he is renovating everything. 

Wait. 

Let me begin at the beginning.

Once upon a time, way back in the late 80's my Rock n' Roll Buddy moved into the ranch style home in Stars Hollow Camas where we live today. He brought with him his uber-large blue recliner/hide-a-bed sectional sofa, his brass and glass coffee table with matching end tables, and a whole lotta band and stereo gear. Add to that, two growing sons and, over the years, many televisions. The end.

(In a nutshell,I guess what I am saying here is that, in fairly typical man-style, his life was not about decorating and foofy-fying up his abode.) 

Now, me, on the other hand...I am as passionate about decorating and nesting as my Rock n' Roll Buddy is about playing one of his favorite guitars. 

So.

(Can you see where I am going with this?)

We had several discussions regarding individual tastes and style over the past few months, and debated the vast differences in opinions concerning the expected life span of a pair of pinch pleat draperies, and then..it happened.

Two and a half weeks ago, he called me at work and told me not to get too excited, but he had been thinking. Thinking that maybe we should look into some new paint, consider hiding the surround-sound inside the walls, possibly some window treatments, and yes, maybe new carpet wasn't such a wild and crazy thought.(How could a girl with Behr Paint running through her veins not get excited at this prospect?!)Let's just say I was...ehem...guardedly optimistic.

After some whirlwind research and price shopping on flooring, and bids with contractors, we were ready to begin our adventure. 

Give or take two weeks and a day, and we have a newly remodeled, redecorated, cozy haven of a home that we are both thrilled with. We added new carpet, wood flooring, painted  the entire interior, got the surround sound working like a charm, and ordered shutters for every window in the house,  along with a lil' surprise bonus of stainless steel kitchen appliances,all in fourteen days and  nights, thankyouverymuch.

The man that three weeks ago claimed he didn't see any reason to replace a "perfectly good 27 year old carpet" in the hallway selected the hand-scraped Chilean hardwood for it's weathered time-worn beauty. This same man shocked me when he announced that "brushed nickel" is his favorite finish for ceiling fans and household hardware.(Who knew?) 

Oh yeah, the Rocker's got style. (And the skills to negotiate the sweetest deals around.)

Don't be surprised if you see us someday on Nate's show in a segment of house-proud.

...Hope you enjoyed the teaser picture of the living room today. Tomorrow the real home tour begins!  

Good news, bad news, good news, good news, bad news, good news.

2012-02-06T09:57:00.000-08:00

The last two weeks have pretty much been an ear-to-ear-grinning happy blur of home projects that domino'd into more home projects, (good news!) but I haven't had television, nor internet for that entire time, (bad news!) so I couldn't share any of it with you!(God only knows what crazy looks Steven Tyler has given folks on Idol these past couple of Wednesday and Thursday evenings that I will never see, and who's still around on The Bachelor?....)

Yes, plenty of late nights and early mornings spent picking up supplies and greeting workers, all without my trusty MAC and the world wide web.

Not too worry, as I have photos to document pretty much every step of the fun progress, (good news!) starting tomorrow! 

How big of an undertaking was it? Well, let's just say that in exactly two weeks we accomplished a home re-do project that would have typically taken the average home renovator two months. (Good news!) We literally got the kitchen back to operating order,and the furniture back in place just in the nick of time for our Superbowl party. We should have had our ehads examined, after pulling a nearly all-nighter (we made our way to bed at about 4:30 a.m. for a couple hours sleep before setting the last minute things up for the party....) with my Rock n' Roll Buddy tweaking the surround sound system and me hanging pictures, fluffing pillows, and removing the layer of sheet rock dust that seems to be everywhere.In the end, it was worth every minute of sleep we lost. (You'll see, starting next post!)

Now then....

I'd like to address a comment (bad news) that I got a couple of days ago from someone that signed her name Carol but chose to post as "Anonymous" rather than link to her own blog or email address so that I could reply privately. I don't get these kinds of comments to terribly often, and when I do, I usually leave them alone. I respect all of you out here in Blogland and I honestly think (I hope) most of you realize that sometimes life gets busy and...well, things happen, like no internet due to a remodel project that required you to unplug all of your electronics including your wireless modem. Couple this with not enough time after work to pop over to a nearby Starbucks to write and publish a blog post, because you're back and forth fifteen times to Home Depot with your new best friend in the canned lighting department each night till they close at nine.....

Anyway.

Here is her comment in it's entirety: (or read it yourself in the comment section following my last post here. )

Hi Tracey,

I'm excited to see what you're going to do with your  new home.  Finally.  However, I've noticed that you hardly ever post  anymore.  How come?  I've been reading your blog since before Mr.  whatshisname left and you used to post every day or nearly every day.   Surely, you can come up with SOMETHING for your readers....a recipe, a  table presentation, a light fixture or paint color you like. I have a  friend who has an acquaintance who writes a blog and she gets paid for  it by how many clicks she has on her blog.  I'm assuming you get paid  for this blog.  You are jipping your readers if you are getting paid  because people are clicking to see if your posting.  It's been TWELVE  days since you've posted ANYTHING!!! 

Carol 

*sigh*

Well, thanks, Anonymous Carol.

I guess it's a good thing that it didn't turn out I hadn't posted due to a hideous family emergency. 

Being snotty and snipey isn't pretty and frankly, it just isn't my style. (And it's not appealing on anyone else for that matter, Carol included.) I'm sharing this comment because I do care about all of my readers (Anonymous Carol included) and I hope you're not mad at me for being away. Please know that I was thinking of you, and that should be confirmed with the amount of photo documentation I did during our big-fat-remodel adventure..truly, you will feel like you were there with me, every exciting, dusty, messy, take-out-mealed step of the way.

On yet another note, I am at last announcing the winner of the Word of the Year Banner. (Still more good news!) I did the drawing on the 28th but had no way to share the news...

The winner is Amber, with  her word being "Bloom". Thanks to all of you who entered my giveaway, and continued to check in here for blog posts!

Go big or go home.

2012-01-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

....er...check that. The title should be "Go big at home".

So many of you have left comments and sent me emails asking when I  am going to share some projects from my new home. I'll be honest here and tell you that I was beginning to wonder about that one myself. 

Living with a man that last purchased a home and home decor in the late 80's, and is still enjoying it just fine, thankyouverymuch, has been a...um...well, a new experience, to put it mildly. 

Three and a half months into this sharing-your-space-and-personal-tastes living arrangement, and my Rock n' Roll Buddy has decided he is up for stepping things up to twenty-twelve (Be still my beating heart!)...and he has jumped in with both feet.

What I mean by that is that we are not taking on a starter project, like changing the paint and a towel bar in a bathroom. And we are not stretching these projects out over the course of a year. No. We are changing the carpet throughout the house,  adding hardwood, painting and doing some electrical work and slight remodeling to the entire house, with an anticipated date of completion set for two weeks. (Pinch me, somebody! I am pretty sure I died and went to decorator's heaven!)

I promise to share before and after pictures, but for starters let me share my favorite purchase for the projects to date. First off, you need to know that my Rock n' Roll Buddy is, by a landslide, the best bargain shopper I have ever seen in my entire life, hands down. (My Gawd. He's very nearly perfect. As if playing a wicked guitar wasn't enough already.)

Anyway.
 
He managed to finagle the absolute deal of a lifetime on hardwood flooring. I mean, it was an even bigger savings than I think he expected to negotiate..It's Chilean Cherry hand-scraped engineered hardwood, (ooh, I love how that rolls off my tongue...)and you'll be seeing it in the entryway and long hall, as well as the kitchen and dining room. It has lil' scrapes and knot-holes and looks like it came out of a historic old building. (Does that sound like me, or what?!) Instant weathered beauty and history on the floor, adding character and personality, warmth and sophisticated charm the minute you enter our home.(Here's the picture of the flooring from the craigslist ad...)
 
Yeah baby. That's what I'm talkin' about. Let the transformations begin.

A charmed life on a shoestring....

2012-01-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

....that's how I like to live. I love making my home..homey. I absolutely thrive on creating a welcome space. Spending oodles and toodles of hard earned dollars to get a great look? Notsomuch.

I find huge satisfaction in finding things that look great...for less. Finding the diamond in the rough, the needle in the haystack..you know, the Craigslist discard that's a Pottery Barn wanna-be.(with some rose-colored vision and a lil' TLC.)

I was surfing Craigslist the other day, and I came across a real treasure. (Not that I am in the market myself for a dining set, but...a steal of a deal for the right someone out there..!) I had been looking at my two favorite inspirational corporate websites, and I could see such similarity, such potential, that I just had to share.

Okay, let's just start with the table, shall we? I mean, with a coat of soft greige paint... 

Craigslist Portland Awesome table AND SIX chairs Asking Price of $225 TOTAL

Restoration Hardware Table SALE Price $1885 - $2795

are you seeing the possibilities?

And the chairs. 

Oh. My.

craigslist 6 chairs to go with the table for a total of $225 asking price!

Restoration Hardware Chair $289-$379

Restoration Hardware Burlap Chair $1295 EACH Special SALE Price!

Re-invent them with the same greige paint treatment, and then leave the fabric as is...  ...or recover it with painters drop cloth, grain sack, or even some fabulous  linen  (Stencil something great on the backs maybe?)

Restoration Hardware Chair $259 EACH SPECIAL PRICE

So.... go to the way-cool big corporation place and get one like a few hundred other families in America for around, oh... $3400 (or more...plus tax, depending on where you live in the good ol' U. S. of A...)or find a set on a place like Craigslist, or your local Thrift Shop for an even cooler couple of hundred bucks, and make it a complete one-of-a-kind set.

Yowza.

That is a savings of somewhere between...well, enough to buy a decent used car. Seriously, somebody's gotta jump on this. Quick!

On Golden Pond.

2012-01-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

You know I pretty much never remove my rose colored glasses. That's just who I am.

I always see things in a kind of romatic-fantasy-fairy-tale kinda way. One of my best friends calls it "Tracey-ville". When I start talking about a place I love, or even the way I plan on setting up a room, or a tablescape, she will interject, "Oh, you're living in Tracey-ville again".

I'm okay with that....'coz they say that, for a thing to happen, it must first be a dream.

Here's an example of that-

Way back when, in 2007 to be exact, I wrote about a wonderful. magical little town up here in the Pacific Northwest. That charm filled little spot was Camas, Washington. I shared how I'd love to live there...and.. Wow! God heard me, and a couple of years later I found myself living..here. In sweet, sweet Camas, Washington.

Since moving up here to the Pacific Northwest, I have discovered many other wonderful places and destinations near by. I'd have to say, (and in fact, have said it so many times to my friends that they can finish my sentences about it)far and away my most favorite discovery since relocating up here has to be the incredible Birkenfeld Country Store, located in Birkenfeld, Oregon, population 12.

*sigh* Little teeny-tiny slice o' heaven on earth. That's what it is. 

Sooooo...Over the past year and a half, we've traveled the picturesque hour and forty-five minute(each way)car drive to the Birk for many band gigs. The fabulous people I told about in this blog post have become our friends.

I had tried many times to figure out just why so many  amazing people lived way out there, some of them opting to drive an hour and a half each  way all week into Portland for work, and then congregating at the Birk  on Saturday nights for music, socializing and Wendy's world famous  smokehouse burgers. 

Well, now I know. 

It's Fishawk Lake.

Last weekend before the band gig, we were invited to stop in for a visit with some of our Birkie friends at their home on the Lake, which is just a few (Four? Five?)short miles from the Birk.

Oh. My.

We took a turn off the main two lane road, onto a smaller two lane road. It meandered down and around through beautiful trees and over a little dam. We both pretty much uttered breathy wow's at the same time as we made the turn and caught our first glimpse of the lake. It reminded me of the movie "On Golden Pond" and "Funny farm" both at the same time.

Peaceful, quiet beauty. Homes of various styles and sizes nestled in under the trees and on the water's edge. Everyone had little boat docks and I swear I could feel the friendliness and charm just oozing out of this little community. 
 
Our friends have lived on Fishawk lake for fifteen years...anyway I think that is what she said.(What do I know? I had her name wrong when I wrote about them the first time!)I hope they don't mind that I'm sharing their picture...they're just such a cute couple!
As I was drooling all over my sweater while I  looked out their living room window at the lake, she shared with us how they have a "Dock Crawl" where they do open houses at different times of the year and everyone has so much fun. (Be still my heart! It's Stars Hollow on the lake!)Summer time finds the lake filled with paddle boats and ducks out in the yard at the water's edge.

Some folks live at Fishawk Lake full time and commute to work, others are retired, and still more use their sweet Fishawk Lake-home as a get away for summers, or weeks and weekends.

I can tell you that if I were to have a get-away place, it wouldn't take me two minutes to tell you where it would be. Forget Hawaii, or Mexico, or the Caribean, or the grandness of Lake Tahoe for that matter...I'd take a lil' place on Fishawk Lake, in Birkenfeld, Oregon, thankyouverymuch.

Let it snow!

2012-01-15T14:28:00.000-08:00

After the driest December on record, and January starting off the same way (And please, do not think for one minute that I am complaining!) We got a dusting of the white stuff last night! Such a nice lil' surprise for our new year....

Baby steppin' on into Twenty-Twelve.

2012-01-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

I bet you thought I have been just so danged busy getting myself organized that I haven't had a minute to write a post.

Ehem.

Oh, how I wish it were so. I have been busy, yes, but the getting organized part, notsomuch....not yet anyway. I am easing into my New Year's Resolution thing this year. You know, baby steps. (Think of the movie, What About Bob? and you'll know what I mean..)

Anyway,speaking of New Year's, I came across the sweetest lil YouTube  duet from Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and even though I am rather late for New Year's Eve 2011 (or maybe I am incredibly early for New Year's Eve Twenty-Twelve?) I just had to share, 'coz I think it will make you smile.

See? Pretty cute, huh?

Back to my New Year's Resolutions... just so you know, getting organized isn't my only  resolution. I also have stuff like drink more water, get on a better budget, and the rest of the typical list most of us think of when it comes to New Year's Resolutions. Actually, I always have the exact same resolutions every year. (It makes  them easy to remember, and there always seems to be room for improvement.) 

Anyway.

Becoming more physically fit is always on the list, and  this year, I have actually embraced this resolution and have started  working out. In the past, I always had used the price of a gym membership as my standard excuse, but all employees were given a completely free health club membership through my job, so I felt God was trying to tell me something.) 

While I am not 100% into my fitness routine,(I'd say I am about 77% there though..) I can tell you that I am going to the gym at least three days a week (shooting for five, but...aaah.... Baby steps.)

...and I have begun to collect some semi-cute work out clothes. (As the fabulous Coco Chanel said "“I don't understand how a woman can leave the house  without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And  then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny.  And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.” How can you argue with that?) 

So, I've been (and continue to be) a busy lil' bee, between work, and working out, and band gigs, and fun with family and friends...and I am striving to get organized, but I am going easy on myself so as to improve my odds for success...time will tell, and we'll see how that goes.

Baby steps.

A new word for my new year....and a giveaway to celebrate it.

2012-01-02T20:33:00.000-08:00

The last couple of years I decided to join the growing number of bloggers and friends that chose a word to focus on for the year. (You can find my post about my word from last year here.) I'm also doing the same Banner Giveaway that I did last year as well!

For my Giveaway:

To refresh your memory on what you need to do to enter for my Giveaway, here are the rules, in three easy steps:

1. comment on this post before Friday, January 27th at midnight, sharing the word you've chosen, and why.**Make sure you leave an email address if you are commenting as "Anonymous" so I can get a hold of you if you win!** 

2. Saturday, January 28th I will draw one comment and pick a winner.

3. The winner will get a custom banner sent to them in their inbox of their word for the year.

Last year, my word was BALANCE, which was the same word I used in 2010. In many ways, I think I did an admirable job of achieving that word. Okay, maybe not actually achieving it, but I definitely inched a little closer to it, and for me, that's no small feat. Having that word was a good reminder to me all year long of what I was trying to move towards, at any rate.

So.

I am still kind of in the same mindset these days..and so many words work towards similar things...at any rate, after thinking long and hard, I made my choice.....

My word for twenty-twelve is ORGANIZE. I think I have the Joy, Bliss, Happiness, and Trust areas in check, but I am constantly finding myself over-booked...with commitments made, work, family, chores, fun...not to mention,a gajillion ideas of more things I want to do. (See? It seems like a slight variation on last years word of Balance, I know...but for me it's about time management,and planning for things that really matter, and making time count. That, and the fact that I felt like I shouldn't pick the same word THREE years running...)

This year I plan to hone in on putting more order in my life...and striving to become more organized seems the natural progression after striving for balance.

Okay, now how about you? Are you choosing a word for the year? If you are, what is it, and why?

I'd love to hear from you and maybe you'll win my custom made banner!

Kiss last year goodbye.

2011-12-31T20:20:00.000-08:00

I still can't quite believe it's New Year's Eve, 2011 already, can you?

You know I am a fanatical baker. This  week I finished up my holiday baking by doing cookies and dipped pretzels for the neighbors and a few more friends. (I ran  out of treats and time last week to include them all.) I stuck with my white  theme, but changed the theme of my tags to New Year's.

Speaking of New Year's Eve..what will you be doing tonight?

We will be out of town with my Rock n' Roll Buddy's sis and her hubbs, and we'll be listening to one of the best local bands around... Do you ring in the new and celebrate the old, or do you call it a night early? 

Whatever you are doing, I wish you a wonderful and prosperous twenty twelve, filled with everything your heart might desire. 

One last lil peek at Christmas....

2011-12-31T17:20:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a few more pictures of Carter and Coen's home from Christmas eve...

 Their stockings were hung....

 The tree was trimmed, and waiting for Santa...

The table was beautiful....

It was a wonderful Christmas...and a wonderful year, as I look back on it!

My favorite Martian.

2011-12-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

(Photo Source)

**We had a very Merry Christmas 'round here, and I hope yours was wonderful too, but that's so not the theme of my post-holiday-blogpost today...**

So, I am aware that I may have already lost some of you with my title and the photo above.(and by "some of you" I mean everyone under the age of 35. If you're confused, you can get up to speed right here.)

You know how that guy wrote that book about women being from Venus and Men from Mars? Well, okay, so I never actually read it myself, but I am fairly certain the concept is that women are all about thinking (over-thinking?)..er..feeling...with our hearts (hence the Venus, Goddess of Love reference) and men are...well, I have no real idea (maybe I should have read the book?)except that I think they are much more basic, and logical,(or maybe that should be illogical...) although not any less complex to women.

They are most definitely not as touchy-feely-heart-on-our-sleeve-ish as we girls are. (Apparently that is where the Mars reference comes in. They are Martians, for Pete's sakes. It's no small wonder we have trouble communicating with them.)

Anyway.

I have been pondering all of this lately because I am realizing that I am rather a novice level girl in the boy-girl communication department when it comes to getting my thoughts across to my Rock n' Roll Buddy. Maybe it comes from not having a long list of men on my relationships list, and having spent multiple decades with one man...er...Martian.

That other Martian and I developed our own way of showing our feelings and communicating in a particular way that became familiar...a habit.

For. Three. Decades.

Then, I spent five years solo. I didn't realize it, but I grew fairly comfortable with making my own decisions, both the itty-bitty-little ones and the ginormous ones.

Take all that into account, and add the fact that I am..well, let's just say it, fif-fif-fifty five. We are both older, and ~~more set in our ways~~ wiser, and finding a way to blend our material belongings (while trying to figure out which of the other person's items hold sentimental value to them...) along with discovering ways of communicating our opinions (along with two cents on definite home-decor ideas from both parties) without injuring anyone's heart, become a rather delicate task.

For five years,I didn't have to ask anyone if they liked the giant vintage firewood holder I ran out and bought for the living room. I just went with my gut.

And now,....well,I get on auto pilot, like we all do on Venus, and assume just how my Rock n' Roll Buddy will respond, (Que in background music and pan in to Tracey-ville, USA, with Ward Clever smiling in lustful admiration at June as she shows him the fabulous wood holder, making his life oh-so-complete.)I assume he will appreciate certain things I do and say in the same manner that the other Martian did for thirty some years.(I came to this incorrect conclusion by the way, by surmising that, after all, they are both Martians, right?)

Only, that isn't what happens.

His response is...different than I was accustomed to way back when. Different than I expect. (Typical Martian....)

*sigh*

Me, being from Venus, with all of my romantic notions,(mmm hmmm,very clearly a Venus girl all the way, what with serving him his heated syrup in a sweet lil' pour-cup for pancakes, and having lil' felted wool birdies in snow hats adorn our winter-time table scape...)while he, quite obviously has to be from Mars.(How else can you explain the need to keep two working microwave ovens in the same kitchen, and three cordless drills in the garage?)

I feel very much like I am trying to master a foreign language of some sort. There is a learning curve in blending personalities and belongings from two such different planets, and I am grasping little pieces of wisdom....most importantly, I can tell you that he is definitely my favorite Martian.

Christmas at Mr. and Mrs. Big Dog's home.

2011-12-24T08:57:00.000-08:00

While I was at the newlywed's home yesterday doing some marathon gift wrapping, I remembered my camera and got a few pictures to share with you of some of their wonderful holiday decorating...

When you first enter through the front door, you are greeted by not one, but two beautiful, real, fresh cut trees within eye range. One in the living room, and one in the corner of the dining room.

There are plenty of eye candy details all around...in the living room...

the dinging room...

 ...in the kitchen too...

A live potted tree in the master...they plan on getting a live one each year to plant in their huge yard.

....And even the guest room boasts a tree, and lots of lil' sweet details....

You can't help but feel the Christmas spirit here...Merry Christmas eve, everyone! Hope you are having a wonderful holiday, shared with the people you love.

Sharing the holiday spirit.

2011-12-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Last night I wrapped up my first round of baking, and packaged up some cookies for my Rock n' Roll Buddy to take into work. Hmmm, for some reason, this basket of treats photographed small looking. It's actually a nice big tray of cookies!!

I stopped by GoodWill on my way home to see if I might find a cute container or two to package up the baked goods, and I struck gold.

I found a set of six matching little buckets for $2.99...exactly enough buckets to make lil' presents for my department friends at work!

I filled each bucket with shred, and cookies, and added a sweet little tag that I created on my computer, and candy cane striped ribbon. Today we are going out for a holiday luncheon and these are going to make charming little gifties for each of them!

"Coz nothin' says lovin' like somethin' from the oven.

2011-12-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for all the comments on yesterday's post! I brought home a pitcher of roses from the party..er...the wedding!...and I smile each time I look at them. I don't think I will ever be able to be that surprised again in my life time. Such a thrilling, fun feeling!(Click here to see MORE pictures...from the photographer!)

Anyway.

I spent Sunday afternoon baking in the kitchen while my Rock n' Roll Buddy held band practice in the living room. I'll be giving out my goodies to neighbors, and friends...

I went with a white Christmas baking theme for the most part this year. I'll add ribbon wrapped milk bones for my neighbors next door that have pups.....

.....I stuck with my old stand by, favorite recipes...snowballs, and star shaped sugar cookies......

I also dipped pretzels in white chocolate and sprinkles for more added frosty white bling.

So pretty and so yummy! What about you? Do you go with a theme (snowmen? Stars? Red and Green?) when baking for the holidays?

Oh, how I LOVE a surprise!

2011-12-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!!!! I..we... had the most fabulous surprise this weekend!

I shared a while back that my first born daughter had gotten engaged. Well....since then, no date for the wedding had been set, and all kinds of ideas had been tossed around; a destination wedding, a quiet trip to the courthouse with a party afterwards, a planned elopement...but no date set and no progress on the plans. Trust me, I threw out all sorts of suggestions, and themes (a Christmas wedding? New Years Eve? How about something in a barn? A fabulous dinner after watching them burst out of the courthouse?) and even began gathering pictures for ideas on my Pinterest board...(you know how I love a project, right?)

Anyway.

We were invited to Multnomah Falls Lodge for a dinner to meet my  daughter's future in-laws, who are visiting for the holiday's from out  of town. 

I had seen an idea on Pinterest for little cards for the table to use as an ice-breaker of sorts...you know, a conversation starter. I ran the idea by the happy couple and then whipped them up. I popped the cards in my purse and we headed to the falls.

Little did we know, but once inside the charming room upstairs in the Lodge, the dinner was not just a dinner...it was a surprise wedding! Not a detail was forgotten, with both of my girls planning and plotting and organizing....Old silver pitchers and canning jars from home filled with white roses adorned the tables in the banquet room. There were favors of mittens and scarves for everyone to wear as we were escorted outside to a spot near the falls. We were given cups of hot cider and cocoa along for the chilly walk.

The happy couple were decked out in their wedding attire, and my daughter had the most incredible overcoat (from Anthropologie!) that was cut slightly higher in the front, and showed off the bottom of her vintage reproduction dress....breathtaking!

We took our seats and witnessed their vows...(The little men were entertained with raisins...)

...then we all returned to the upstairs room in the Lodge for a wonderful wedding dinner and cake. My pictures came out terrible due to some screw-ball adjustments I made to the shutter speed or something or other. (Sheesh...) Thank goodness the professional shots should be here within a week or so and I can share more then.

I am still smiling as I remember the complete and total surprise upon realizing we'd all been tricked (some were told it was a charity event, others a dinner, and who knows what all else!) and what a spectacular day it was.

edited at 4:00 PM to add: here's a link of just some of the pictures from the photographer!

Here comes good ol' Santa Claus....

2011-12-17T12:06:00.000-08:00

I don't recall sharing anything about my co-worker friend Clarence. 

Clarence is 80 years young and proud of it. For most of the year, he's our sweet lil' mailroom guy, but come December things start to change. He grows his beard a bit longer and fuller, and he gets out his nice red suit.

Mmm hmmm, he's our very own in-house Santa! Last Thursday and Friday he and Mrs. Claus (another good sport-co-worker friend) sat and listened to countess wish lists from kids (and Grand-kids!) of employees...(Have I mentioned that I love where I work?)

Carter was a little shy this year, but managed to sit on Santa's lap and have a lil' chit-chat, but Coen wanted no part of Old St. Nick. Now, Mrs. Claus was another story....(I'm telling you, this little guy is totally a ladies man!)

...Hard to believe Christmas will be here in just one more week!

All in the family.

2011-12-12T21:28:00.000-08:00

For my birthday last week, (Good Gawd, I am "double nickels" as my friend Dona says...no denying it now. I have to say "mid-fifties"...)my kids gave me something I will treasure always...they had a photo shoot arranged last time my son, daughter-in-law, and other grand babies were up visiting from the biggest little city!

There are some darling shots of the grands together....

...and some alone...

...and some wonderful pictures of my entire brood as it is now...

I couldn't have hoped for a better present from all of them!

Winter Wonderland.

2011-12-07T09:29:00.000-08:00

Nothing like a little snow to make things merry and bright for the holiday season....even if you don't live where there are real snowflakes falling outside! Mmmm hmmm, just use a few bags of fake snow, drizzled in handfuls over the twinkle-lit tree, and you're good to go.

Little details of mittens, and faux flocked boughs, old ice skates, and my personal favorites of the season, my little winter birds, complete the winter wonderland look. 
The giant cardboard letters (From JoAnn's Fabrics and  Crafts...available in three sizes!) painted a weathered red, and  be-decked with more snow were a fun touch showcasing our company  initials...

A coworker friend provided a roaring fire for my big screen behind the counter...how fun is that?! 

A thrifted fake wood (plastic!) mirror, reinvented with a coat of white primer and adorned with flocked boughs anda lil' sweet snowman...
...changed the alcove from all business to a warm and welcoming spot in the room.(Sorry for the sort of blurry-out-of-focus-odd-angled picture!) The thing going across the mirror is the Winter Wonderland Banner's reflection.

Oh yes, people, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The merriment continues...

2011-12-05T22:42:00.000-08:00

Can you guess what I will be doing with these pieces today? I'll be sharing pictures in my next post!

The Christmas spirit hits the office....

2011-12-02T23:14:00.000-08:00

So, I showed you the Peace on Earth banner while it was a work in progress. Well, now I'll show it to you it is in it's completed state hanging in the front lobby of my office building! 

Two other gals from my work helped with the lobby decorations and we had a blast making things merry and bright...a nine foot fake tree on top of a round coffee table that was draped in a twin size sheet. 

White poinsettias and ooodles and toodles of purple glittery ornaments and silver-y snowflakes (Everything came from good ol' WalMart and the cost was surprisingly low! 

My favorite part of our  decorating was the curtains we added. We used scrim (skrim?) fabric to fashion make shift drapes, hung with those awesome stik-um hooks that won't hurt your walls, and added our company initials(AG) in glitter as well...

...and I then swagged the glitter-y banner.

A little touch of glitzy adornment to the sign near the elevator and we were done. 

Well, nearly done. After I took these pictures we did add a three foot wreath that I did up to match the tree on the far right hand wall for balance....

It was a lot of fun and I think the office looks really festive and merry, with our signature purple making it unique.

Creating a better world with cookies and milk.

2011-11-29T21:05:00.000-08:00

**Before I begin, let me say that my photos came out really poorly due to the lighting in my office....**

 Christmas decorating isn't only reserved for your home, you know.

We are having so much fun at work this week! We're decking the halls...er....the main lobby areas on two floors, along with the reception area...for Christmas! To kick off the festivities on Monday afternoon we had Christmas music playing, and I decided to offer up a lil' buffet of milk and cookies.

I began by emailing everyone on my floor (we have three entire floors of employees..) the following quote:

(in case you can't read it in the photo: Think what a better world it  would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about three  o'clock every afternoon...Robert Fulgum) and I invited them to help create a better world by stopping by the reception area for a treat.

I served the milk in old wine carafes I got a long time ago at a thrift store, tied with little gingham ribbons and placed in a bucket of ice....

The cookies were a nice combination of homemade (by me and a friend at work) and my good pal, Trader Joe. (I adore his dark chocolate star cookies!)

I am decorating the entire reception area (more pics in a post to follow later...)in traditional red, white...and non-traditional grey tones.....

A five dollar scarf from WalMart makes a fabulous winter-time runner, a jingle bell from a place setting a few years ago (remember it here? Wow. Was it really 2007?!Feels like it was last year...)

....and dollar mittens complete the look.(Oh! And, aren't you lovin' my stocking cap birdies from Camas Antiques?)

So, how's your work space looking this Christmas season? What do you do to add some cheer? I'd love to hear!

...and the winner is...

2011-11-25T16:55:00.000-08:00

Judy, from A Picket Fence Life! (Be sure and stop by and visit her blog...)Thank you everyone for your comments and entries! I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Happy Turkey-Day, my friends.

2011-11-24T03:37:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. ~Erma Bombeck

I came across a photo from Thanksgiving 2007 and thought I'd share it again. (such a beautiful and delicious pie my daughter-in-law made!)

Wishing you all a cozy Thanksgiving, filled with love, and laughter, and gratitude.

Peace on Earth.

2011-11-21T21:47:00.000-08:00

Isn't it incredible what a little glitter, paper and ribbon can do to turn any room into a festive event?

 Along with my reception area,(more on that project to come shortly!) I am helping to decorate the lobby area of our building at work for the holidays. Our company's logo is mainly a deep purple, with lighter lavender and some silver and gold, so we decided we'd go with these colors to mix things up a bit, and I am excited to see it all unfold.

We've got some fabulous ideas, and thanks to good ol' WalMart, we got the giant tree and nearly all of the trimmings for a nice price.

Last night I used my signature old Dictionary pages and printed the letters for a giant banner that will span across the second floor loft area. I'll be adding some glitter and using my pinking sheers, along with framing the pages with a rich shade of purple paper. The finished banner will read "Peace on Earth" and I think it is going to top things off perfectly.. I'll share the lobby area in it's entirety next week.(We will be decorating Monday night after work!) 

In case you're wondering, today I am thankful for having a job where I am encouraged to be creative, and think outside the box. I'm also thankful for my coworker friends that share my enthusiasm.

Spreading the Christmas love...with a lil' inspirational Give-Away!

2011-11-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Ohmygosh,People! A week from today many of you (by you, I mean not me) will have warmed up your car to head out shopping at 2:00 A.M. for all of those crazy-mad day after Thanksgiving holiday deals. The rest of you (by you, I mean me) will be recovering from eating far too much stuffing and cranberry sauce, enjoying my Christmas Playlist, and getting things holly-jollied around the house.

I came across this absolutely inspiring Christmas Book in my ginormous craft book stash when I was making my last move, and I decided to share it with you in a chance to win it as a Give-Away prize....(If I get any more inspired for holiday decorating than I already am, we won't be able to move around here.) 

The book is full of charming ideas and vintage charm, and I know you'll love it! Here's how the contest will work:

Leave a comment here finishing this sentence: My favorite way to spend the weekend after Thanksgiving is __________________. Be sure your comment links to an email address or include it in the comment. (I have to be able to contact you if you win!)

Link this contest blog post to your blog and/or FaceBook page and come back and post another comment sharing that link for a second/third chance to win!

I will announce the winner on Friday, November 25th in my blog post!

Good luck! I know you are going to love the book!

I am so thankful for all of you out here in Blogland!(I know I already listed that on the first day, but I can't say it enough.

I know it's only rock n' roll, but I like it.

2011-11-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for...

my Rock n' Roll Buddy.

If anyone had told me five years ago that I'd love going for rides on the back of a Harley, (including one spur of the moment ride at nearly midnight) that I'd actually look forward to Sunday Football, (even if the Seahawks are borderline pathetic this season...) or that many Friday and Saturday nights I would utter the words to a new acquaintance, "I'm here with the Band" I would have done a double eye roll...as soon as I finished laughing.

Watching Monday Night Football, and hearing the announcer repeat, verbatim, what my Buddy just said on the sofa always make me laugh, (seriously, it's like there's a three second delay and the guy has an ear phone to repeat what he said...) listening to old reel-to-reels of  Rock n' Roll from his earlier band days, or snuggling up in a blanket enjoying a really late-night (early morning?) private one-man-guitar concert,(complete with moments of Name-That-Tune from him and some song requests from me...) are all things I would never have pictured myself doing...(actually, having a blast)...but I do, and that is what is so great about life. Change isn't necessarily a bad thing. Different can be better.

Finding someone who is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get person is very different for me, and I mean that in the best way. (Trust me, after spending three decades with a guy who's motto was "You are what you drive." this is so refreshing, and welcomed.)

I consider one of my all time favorite dates the time we stopped at  the grocery and got frosted animal cookies, milk and two paper cups to share in the car  on the way to a Brew Pub to watch the vikings lose play and share some two-for-a-buck tacos. (I can't tell you how much fun that was...and that's definitely something you would never have seen me doing in my old life.)

Mmmm hmmm,  I'd have to say that I am very thankful for my Ralph, and for a second chance at sharing my heart.

Foofy-and-oh-so-fancy gift wrap ideas.

2011-11-15T22:29:00.000-08:00

So....I want to share a few pictures from the Gift Wrap Party my daughter had at her home last Sunday....
It was a perfect Autumn day here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and there was plenty of hot cider, cocoa with all the fixings, and lots of yummy baked goods, including some delicious pumpkin bread, and cookies made from cake mix. (Have you had them? I will have to get the recipe from my daughter and share it...so good!)

We even got to dip apples in warm caramel sauce, and then each guest was given a can to take home as a party favor!

I like to wrap my gifts for the most part in brown paper, but I had lots of glittery boxes, bags, ribbons, and doo-dads to sparkle things up. The deep silver glitter has such a vintage feel to me. It reminds me of the old German Glass Glitter, you know?

By adding a simple adornment like an inexpensive Christmas decoration, a gift goes from ordinary to fabulous. I shared my favorite trick for wrapping wine bottles...simply wrap it by gathering up mylar tissue paper with a length of ribbon, add a little ornament, and then spray the top area of the gathered mylar with spray glue, and sprinkle mylar confetti (pearlecent or silver glitter confetti work nicely also!)See? It looks like it was meant for a party.

The same technique works well on the little take-out style boxes sold at craft stores...(so great for concealing a gift card!)

A bit of tulle, some snippets of ribbon, and a little mylar shred make all the difference..

(I have to admit that I quite enjoy wrapping presents far more than I like shopping for them, fighting the crowds, and trying to find that elusive perfect present.)

Everyone had a wonderful time at the party and I think they all were more than a little inspired to get home and start assembling their wrapping supplies.

I am thankful for time spent with friends, laughing and sharing ideas...and I guess I have to say that I am thankful for glitter.

Mo's.

2011-11-14T22:17:00.000-08:00

Friday night we took off for the coast to spend the weekend with some visiting family members, and that included a trip to Mo's.

Mo's is known across the entire region for it's off-the-chart, incredible New England style clam chowder. This place is so good that even though it was a rainy, grey afternoon, between lunch and supper time, there was long line wrapping all the way outside of the building, of people just wanting to get a seat and big ol' bowl of Mo's clam chowder. 

I must share here that this was not only my very fist visit to Mo's, but my very first time tasting Clam Chowder. (Shameful, I know)I am happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed every bite of this thick, rich, cream concoction of clams, and cream, and potatoes, delivered to our table in perfect sourdough bread soup bowls.

Mmmmmm.

I discovered this past weekend that not only am I thankful for good friends and family to spend time exploring new places with, but I am also thankful for comfort foods, like Mo's clam chowder.

A slightly belated Veterans Day Post..

2011-11-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

I shared this on FaceBook already, but it certainly bears re-posting here.

I am thankful for all of the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S. of A. and I want to say thank you to all of our men and women in uniform today, and in our past. You are our true heros, and I count myself forever grateful for having been born in this great country.

Wrapping things up.

2011-11-10T22:03:00.000-08:00

Carter and Coen's Mama is having a group of girlfriends over this Sunday and I am going to be sharing my tips and tricks for fancy gift wrapping with them. I've been prepping and gathering lots of little adornments and such to show along with my signature wrap- brown craft paper, as well as other snazzy jazzy wrapping papers.

I keep my wrapping supplies organized these days in clear plastic tubs- tissue paper in one, colored shred in another, and ribbons in yet another. It makes it easy to get things wrapped quickly, since I typically use only the brown craft paper or handled bags, but sometimes I opt for a more colorful option.

I couldn't resist this paper for the two grandson's birthdays coming up. 

Today I am thankful for...a slice of time at the end of my day, where I can get my craft Jones satisfied by creating special little details for friends and family.

Peace, love, junk.

2011-11-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for all of the inspiration from my friends out there in the Junk World. Thanks to the internet, this world is a much warmer, cozier place where we can share clever ideas and stimulate our imagination for re-purposing things to make our homes our havens.

Especially now, when so many of us are on budgets, and have more time than money, it is gratifying to be able to use discarded items in new ways, without breaking the bank.

Oh, how thankful I am.

2011-11-08T00:38:00.000-08:00

I was going to start of by saying that I feel like it's been a week since I sat down here to write, and then I realized it has been a week.

Forget that it has been a week, how the heck did it get to be November already? I mean, is it just me, or does it seem like we were just all looking forward to July barbeques and working on our tans about six days ago? The only thing that doesn't seem to be changing and flying by (at least not in a good way) is this tough economy of ours. Times are still scary,with more people out of work or under-employed, and everyone seems to be fighting a battle of some sort. Struggles with job searches, keeping afloat financially, and stressful every day life situations seem to be a common thread whether I am looking at the news, or talking with a close friend. It's all so distressing.

One of my very favorite quotes is this one:

Trust me here, I know that it's not always easy to keep your chin up. God knows I have thrown my share of pretty fantastic pity parties, but we've all got to remember that it's a bad day,or week, or little stretch in time, not a bad life. Trials do pass, and things get do get better, truly they do. (I know this firsthand.)

Even when things may look bad, or seem hopeless, there is always hope, and there are so many things we take for granted. We often times miss the little blessings in every day life. The things people in some other countries can only imagine. Little things like snickers bars, faithful pets, deep red toenail polish, and even the simple freedom to have a ten minute pity party now and then.

Inspired by Sarah, I decided to join in with an month long project I saw here. (And she saw it here.) I realize that I am coming to the party a bit more than a week late (Hmmm, are we seeing a pattern here?) but better late than never as they say, right? 

Anyway.

The idea is to share one thing each and every day in November that I am thankful for. (This should also ensure that you'll be seeing a post from me each day for the rest of the month!) I am going to share eight of my little blessings here today so that I can feel caught up....

1. This is easy. I am very thankful for you. For each one of you that continues to check in with me here and see if I've posted. I sincerely thank you for your friendship.

2. I am forever thankful for unlimited minutes on my cell phone. (This kinda goes back to being thankful for friendship...)

3. I am thankful for flannel sheets and feather pillows. It is like sleeping on a cloud, after a long day.

4. I am thankful for the little people in my life that squeal when I knock on the door, and say "I wuv you!"

5. I am thankful for having a job. Especially because it is one that I really enjoy. (That two year stint at the bank after a layoff was like one long root canal for me....no offense to those of you in banking. Let's just say it wasn't my cuppa tea.)

6. I'm thankful for getting that one extra hour of sleep last Sunday, thanks to falling back with Daylight Savings time. (See number 3 above...)

7.Seat heaters in my sweet lil' Bug. It sure makes cold mornings ever so much nicer.

........and today, I am thankful for living in such a fabulous and beautiful part of the country where I can do so many fun things out and about, rain or shine.

How about you? What are you thankful for? (If you'd like to join in the fun, go to Connie's blog for all the details...here!)

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,
Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!"
             ~Dexter Kozen

Super fast and easy charming gift wrap job.

2011-10-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

**Pardon the grainy photos..I used my old Generation-Whatever iPhone at work to snag these shots**...

I love fancy packages with beautiful gift wraps and ribbons and bows, but I have whittled down all of my gift wrap supplies these days. (smaller homes require creative thinking and more sensible purchases...) These days I have opted to go with a more neutral wrap job that can be changed with the color of tissue and the style of gift tag. I now use only brown craft paper (the kind you buy to mail packages in...) and I have a stash of two sizes of an oatmeal colored handled gift bag.

Yesterday I bagged up a gift for a friend that is retiring, and I wanted something charming and simple, but vintage looking and pretty. I got it all in about four minutes time. 

A bit of tulle, a strip of pale Robin's egg blue ribbon (My favorite! So yummy!) and a  hand written (with a fine point black marker)tea dyed manilla tag (I actually dye them in large quantities in a tub of uber hot instant coffee, and let them air dry on cake cooling racks.) Some matching blue tissue and a little sprig of milnery flowers from my collection finished it off.

If you keep your wrap supplies simple, and organized, it will be a snap to make any present look like a million bucks, and will make your recipient feel oh-so-special.

Four times the love.

2011-10-26T22:17:00.000-07:00

Be still my heart. 

These shots are the only ones (out of several dozen) that came out even close to clear from the lil' cousins visit last week. (I'm not sure why it seems each time I get a picture sweet Mr. Coen there has his shirt off.) Can you tell it was after dinner and they were all engrossed in a Mickey Mouse episode on TV? 

It's very nearly impossible to photograph four little Grands all under the age of three!(More sweet pictures here!)

Settling in..

2011-10-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

We have had a very productive couple of weekends, indeed! (Working Monday through Friday makes it pretty hard to get too terribly  much done on weeknights...)

Last weekend, we managed to get some things unpacked, go to our favorite place for a band gig, and entertain out of town company (The Sewing Queen of Northern Nevada was up to meet her newest great grand babe!) for an overnight, breakfast and the 49er game.

This  weekend we managed to get a bit further...or I did, at least, by  reorganizing all of the kitchen cupboards. (...which was no small task, let  me assure you.) We had more company (my grand babes from the Biggest  Little City were in town with their Mama and Daddy, followed by a  friend from out of town who came  to watch the some of  the world series, along with a couple of good football games.)

I've  discovered that the easiest way, for me at least, to feel moved in is  to tackle a room at a time, starting with the rooms that look like they will  be easiest, (Putting toiletries away in the bathroom, setting up the guest room...) followed by the rooms I live in the most. (And I do  consider myself somewhat of an expert on this topic after all of my  moves...)

The living room is still half filled with boxes  (Many of them are his now-displaced items from other rooms, not mine, which makes me feel not-so-bad)  and  duplicate items that we have put on craigslist for sale, or are  waiting to be put away or  donated. The entire dining room  is pretty much hidden  beneath more boxes and oodles  of Rubbermaid tubs of holiday decor.

(Oh-me-oh-my, that will be an  adventure in itself, digging through our combined Christmas  decorations...)

I  got the laundry room reorganized to hold all of the additional crafty  items and supplies I brought along with me. The guest room is all dialed  in for the most part,(waiting for a couple of decorating projects, like fresh paint!) and the kitchen is three quarters of the way  there. (maybe not esthetically just yet, but storage and organization is looking  good...)

The family room was a team effort and it is  starting to feel more cozy to me. I basically set up my mirror collection in the same fashion as it was in my last two places that I lived, with some new additions that belonged to Ralph....
....I think it feels inviting and warm; a little bit me and a  little bit Ralph. We hooked up all of his electronic gear in  my antique  wardrobe closet. (I am leaving the doors off so we can see the TV, which for some odd reason looks small in this photo, but in actuality it nearly fills the shelf it sits on.)
My  chairs with his sofa. His reel to reels, speakers, and record albums with my mirror  collection. (A few more mirrors are needed, as the room has a very high ceiling.)

Little by little, box by box, things are beginning to take shape. With any luck at all, just a couple more weekends of unpacking and I can start having fun with some fabulous decorating projects I have in mind...I'll be sharing them with you, right after I run them by Ralph!

Oh me oh my it's time for pumpkin pie.

2011-10-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Well, almost. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it.

Autumn chills and shorter days are here, and I'm ready to start baking up some different pumpkin goodies, even though I should be spending every spare moment unpacking... 

Anyway.

I usually make my my Pumpkin Maple cake several times each fall and this year I have added another amazing (and easy!) pumpkin dessert to my list of pumpkin recipes.

A friend at work made this for a Potluck and I simply had to have the recipe. I've made it twice in the past week.  (Earlier this week for a family dinner, and then again yesterday as we watched Game 4 of the World Series with an out of town friend!) I think it's going to be a staple in my home for the rest of the season, and I wanted to share it with you! 

Pumpkin Crunch

1 package yellow cake mix

1 large can (30 oz) pumpkin pie mix (Not 100% pumpkin)

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 ½ cups sugar

½ t salt

1 cup chopped pecans (optional) 

1 cup melted butter

Whipped topping (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 9x 13 pan.

Combine pumpkin, eggs, sugar, evaporated milk and salt in large bowl. Pour into pan.  Sprinkle dry cake min evenly over pumpkin mixture.  Top with pecans.  Drizzle with melted butter.  Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.  Cool completely.  Serve with whipped topping. Refrigerate left overs  (if you have any!)

A pretty lil' contest reminder.

2011-10-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

Boy, do I heart this mascara.

If you haven't entered already, make sure to go back and enter the Covergirl contest to win a $50 gift card to Drugstore.com! I shared all the info at the end of this post......

Here's your sign.

2011-10-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

** Let me start off by saying that since Ralph posted a sweet lil' comment on yesterday's post, I will now feel free to call him by his real name here on my Blog, and, for the most part, lose the "Rock n' Roll Buddy" part when I refer to him here.**

Now that the most hideous part of moving is behind me, and my belongings are all piled a mile high at my new home, my mind is literally whirling with decorating ideas. 

My oldest daughter asked me several month ago if I was attempting to "domesticate" Ralph. We both laughed, but, I guess for lack of a better term that may be the case. Call it what you like; the change from bachelor pad to a couple's nest is a pretty decent sized leap, but I think it's all going to come together fabulously.

Anyway.

That brings me to my blog topic today (I bet you were starting to wonder what the heck my post title had to do with what I am yammering about.)

Signs with famous quotes, motivational sayings, and cute quips have become wildly popular in home decor, and that got me to wondering...how many signs...er...word art pieces are too much?

 Here's the thing- I see so many great ideas that I even have four different boards of them going on my Pinterest Page, and I can visualize them in many spots around the house, adding a lot of personality. Let's say the back deck for example...

...or the kitchen...

 .....the laundry room...

....the family room (You know, Ralph is in a band, and so these only seem not only appropriate, but show our personalities...) 

...and any number of other spots around the house...

The thing is that I don't want it to be over-kill. It's a fine line between cool and cheesy, you know.

So....How about you? Are you into word art? Do you enjoy it here and there, not at all, or all around the house??

Why does less still FEEL (And look) like MORE?

2011-10-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all of the "moving" love yesterday. 

The movers came last night after work, and during probably the heaviest rain we have had in six months, loaded me up in Vancouver, and unloaded me, back in sweet lil' Camas.

You know, with each move I  have made, I have moved to smaller, more compact places, (from a nearly 5,000 square foot home, down to less than 1,000 and everything in between!) and I have tried to get rid of things I do not use or need. 

 It's hard for me, because I always think I am going to do "something"  with pretty much everything I come across. This last move I was determined to be brutal with myself and truly pare down. 

After three full truckloads of items to GoodWill, giving oodles more things to some of my fellow vintage  booth friends,and selling a few items on craigslist over the past year, I was feeling pretty lean and mean and proud of myself....

So.......... if I got rid of as much stuff as I thought I did,then why are there are boxes,(and boxes, and boxes, and boxes...) and baskets, and furniture, and you-name-it from the floor to the ceiling in each and every room at Mr. Rock n' Roll's house today?

*sigh* I've got my work cut out for me. (Aaaah! I so love a decorating challenge!)

P.S. For the ~~couple~~ ~~few~~ several readers that were somehow puzzled and thought my Rock n' Roll Buddy was Gay (Really? Really?!)...

Well,I myself am puzzled that you were puzzled,'coz I kinda pride myself on my communication skills..(I had a good laugh about it at any rate..) I can only guess that you are mixing my Rock n' Roll Buddy up with my best Buddy from Camas Antiques...

...and I believe that confusion came from an old post where I said, "A big gay man in a camouflage hat and a straight guy in a rock n' roll band can turn out to be your best girlfriends in your new town." (See? They are definitely not the same guy, but two very different-and-wonderful-in-their-own-ways guys...)Anyway, I hope that I have now added some clarity on this topic.

NEVER say never.

2011-10-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Never say never. Isn't that what they say?  

I know for me, any time I have ever uttered that word, it has come back to bite me in the behind.

I will never let my baby have a pacifier.

My kids will never do that. (throw a tantrum in public, stay out past curfew, you fill in the blank here….)

I would never go to WalMart in my slippers. (Okay, I only did that one time, and my slippers kinda-sorta looked  like wanna-be Uggs.)

I’ll never be divorced.

I’m not moving ever again.(I said it when I moved to Norman Drive in the biggest little city, and three more times since...)

In my family, we will never live with someone without marrying them.

There.

Those last. three. nevers.

Not all that many years back, I recall voicing my holier-than-thou opinions loudly when each of my three children were getting serious with their now spouses/fiance' and decided to move in with them. Each of them politely listened to me lecture from my decoupaged soapbox,(Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, marriage is a sacred thing...) and they then proceeded to make their own decisions and choices on the matter. 

(I should add here that at the time of this last "never" speech, I myself was married to their father, and was thoroughly convinced that I was well on my way to the finish line in the happily -ever-after race.)

Ehem. 

(Well, we all know how that turned out.)

Anyway.

Since then, I have come to realize that the things that are truly important in life aren’t things, that following your heart is the best GPS for finding happiness,and that you should never say never....

I’m moving.

And I’ll be sharing my new home (and my heart) with my Rock n’ Roll Buddy.

I feel for the first time in a very, very, very, long forever, happy. Content. Equal parts comfortable and excited, looking forward to what comes next. 

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

2011-10-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

…or do you? I recently got an e-vite to attend my thirty-fifth high school reunion.

Gulp.

Wait.  That’s wrong. I mean… that can’t be right... can it?  Let’s see, take 1975 from 2011… carry the one… ehem…. Yes, it seems to be correct.

My first thought (after completing the math…) was, “Oh. My. Ga. What will I wear? Do I have time to drop those nasty six …or sixteen pounds I have managed to accumulate over the past decade?  Will anyone recognize me? Do I look older than I am?!”

Now, normally I would not say that I am a vain person, but the thought of facing 100 or so of my peers from a point in my life that can only be described as the dorky years makes me feel like I really need to pull out the big guns before facing this crowd of grown-up kids that potentially could look either amazing or appalling. Seriously, it makes the hair on my neck stand up. 

It occurred to me that attending a class reunion is a rare opportunity to make a great first impression… for the second time.  I am well aware that my genes weren’t swimming in the same pool as Ali McGraw’s, but I want to look (and feel) the very best that I can these days, with or without the help of the genetic makeup the good Lord gave me, and any and every tool man has created to enhance my appearance, within reason. 

Thank God for COVERGIRL.

I may struggle to drink my gallon of H2O each day, and avoid that Jillian Michaels Shred DVD as much as I can, but makeup is a girl’s best friend in the fight to continue to look and feel attractive. 

Case in point, my COVERGIRL LashPerfection™ Mascara. It never lets me down. My lashes look long, full, lush, and it doesn’t ever run. The simple fact is, that when we look our best, we feel better. Our confidence goes up six bars and our energy level soars.

It may sound funny, but after passing the half-century mark, a girl needs to feel attractive and confident while facing everyday life, especially when it includes milestone events like the 35th class reunion of the graduating class of 1975 from Silver Creek High.

While we’re on the subject of make-up and looking great, you might want to check out the “Looking Your Best” [ http://goo.gl/K1rSL ] posts in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com. There are some great application tips and ideas for switching up your look for fall!

Want a chance to win a $50 gift card to drugstore.com? In the comments, tell me about a time when using makeup gave you the added confidence you needed for an important event in your life.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.The Official Rules are available here.Enter between October 4th – November 4th.

Everything in it's place and a place for every thing.

2011-10-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

...and if you can make it cute, all the better. (.....you can quote me on that.)

I think a long time ago I shared with you that I collect greeting cards when I find ones I like, and I store them  in a lil' basket so I am ready at a moments notice with the perfect card for the right person,at just the right time... but I never actually showed it to you.

It started years ago with me accumulating a few extra cards...and a few more...and...well, at some point in time I realized I had so many cards that I needed to actually file them by event, so I could find them as I needed them. You know, birthdays, Christmas, Blank, etc... and that has worked really well for me. When ever I see a card I like, I buy it and put it in my card file so I will have it when I need it.

That was the original plan anyway. (And we all know what they said about the best laid plans...)

Over time, I have gotten sloppy, rushing in and plopping the latest cards into the front of the basket, thinking I'd put it in the correct category it later. After doing this a million and six a few times, I managed to create a pretty unorganized basket of cards. Something needed to be done, and I decided that today was that day.

As long as I was going to the trouble to reorganize, I might as well update the look of my system, I thought. Seriously, I am so over the hot-pink-with-screaming-taxi-cab-yellow labels I had created in the early 90's (I think this must have been around the time I was busy puff painting over-sized Tee shirts and sporting really big hair...)

I decided to go with a simple look, using my favorite old typewriter font. I printed my dividers on manilla folders that I cut to be the size of a sheet of computer paper.

All I did was set up 2 columns in WORD, and printed my paper in "Landscape". I cut the paper in half once it was printed and I was ready to put them in place. Within a few minutes I was back to being organized, and it all looked clean, tidy, and cute.

Now, let's see if I can keep it this way.

..'coz we all need a little laugh sometimes.

2011-09-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, so today's post is just a bit...random. Actually, I have a good post all ready, but haven't had time to take the photos to go with it yet. In the meantime,I thought I'd share a lil' YouTube video that's going all around and it had me laughing out loud.(...and if you have already seen it, you probably want to watch it and laugh all over again, right?)

Really, really hard.

I was still smiling over it today..and so I decided I simply had to share it with you, and I'll try and get my photos taken tonight.

Enjoy....

This pretty much says it all.

2011-09-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

.............well, doesn't it? Just a lil' sumthin' sumthin' for us all to ponder on this yummy autumn Monday.

(I found the quote here, and saved it here.)

The boys.

2011-09-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, it's another shameless Gramma brag post. 

But you had to know that would coming. 

I  attempted to do a mini photo shoot of the two lil' local grand-boys this past weekend.  It was a bit like herding kittens, but oh! so fun.

They were climbing  all over one another, and wanting to play. 

I wanted to get some shots to show the size difference between them, but that proved to be a challenge.

Coen has such a mature little face that when I shot him alone, he looks so much older (to me anyway) than the 19 months he really is...

In the end I got a few cute shots and we let the boys go on with their day, wrestling,running,squealing,and giggling together.

Oh,that sound is music to my ears.
.

Can you relate to this?

2011-09-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

I am not at all sure which sounds more fun, my annual Pap exam, a root canal, or jean shopping. It's a toss up.

For me, jean shopping is such a traumatic experience that I put it off as long  as humanly possible. Currently, my favorite jeans are down to the  thread-bare-out-of-shape-and-very-nearly-out-of-style stage, and have been in this state since last spring. I was able to ignore the situation through summer, because..well, it was summer and I was able to wear skirts, sundresses, and shorts. Now, that Autumn is here (on the calendar at least...thankfully we are still enjoying temps in the mid 80's here...) I have to face the fact that sometime soon I need to brave the mall and go jean shopping. I just need to try and get in the right mind set to be able to do it.

Maybe you can answer some of the questions my inquiring mind has regarding jean shopping...or not. I'm just thinking you can relate....

First off...who was the guy that came up with skinny jeans? I want his name and number. Seriously, nothing screams look-how-big-my-bootie-is louder than skinny jeans.

And, when did we decide having the rear pockets half way down our patooties was a look we could all pull off? It feels weird, having my pockets down that low. I feel like they slid off my rear end. It may work for the Olsen twins, but I won't be rockin' that look, no matter what the folks at Buckle want me to believe.

Could there be a more expansive product group than jeans? I think not. Every designer makes them, and some of them even attempt to lure us in with cheesy names (Not My Daughter's Jeans? Oh, pul-eease. I can't quite bring myself to even try those on.) Let me say here, loud and clear, I would pay any price to find a pair of jeans that would make me look aaaah-mazing. I've tried all the brands...from affordable, to you-might-need-to-take-out-a-loan-and-make-payments and I haven't found a brand that works that kind of magic on my body...yet. 

While we're at it, who designs fitting rooms these days? What happened to the old school hinged three piece mirrors so you could catch every angle of yourself? How are we supposed to see how the low slung pockets look on our patooties when there is only one mirror in the fitting room? (Hmmmm....come to think of it, maybe that is exactly why there is only one mirror..maybe their hope is that what we don't know won't hurt us?) I stand there trying to glance over my shoulder to see my rear and kind of end up chasing my self in a slow circle like a puppy chasing his tail...I once even resorted to holding up a compact mirror from my eyeshadow to see if I catch a view of how I look as I walk out of a room...without much luck.

Whether I am successful or not at making a purchase, my jean shopping trips historically end with me feeling so fat and frumpy that all I want to do is find a Dairy Queen and console myself with a Peanut Buster Parfait.

But, maybe that's just me...?

Live and learn.

2011-09-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to write this blog post for over a week now, but the time kept slip-sliding through my hands, and my computer. 

Well, that, and the fact that I am fairly certain I am addicted to Pinterest (Is there a twelve step program for that? If there isn't maybe someone should get one started.) Seriously, internet surfing aside, I just haven't made the time to sit down and post, mainly because I have been feeling like my writing well has run dry. 

After over five years of blogging, (Really? Really.)sometimes I feel like I am being repetitious and-or boring and I wonder if you all are sitting there looking at my blog on your computer screen, shaking your head thinking things like...

 "Sheesh, does she really think I wanna read about this?!" 

or.... 

"Exactly how many times is she gonna re-hash that topic?" 

or...

"Good Gawd! She's showcasing those little cupcakes of hers again! I get it. She bakes. Woo Hoo." 

and surely you're thinking...

"Oh pul-eeease. no one's life is that amazing and fabulous!" (Okay, I just threw that last one in to see if you were still reading. Are you?)  

Anyway.

I looked at the calendar the other day..all right, eight days ago, and I realized that it has now been two years, and three addresses since I first relocated up here to the magnificent Pacific Northwest. Funny, it feels much longer. In fact, it feels like a lifetime ago that I lived in the Biggest Little City. I feel like I've lived here all my life.

That all being said, I made a little list of some of the random things I have learned this past year, and I thought I'd share them today:

Volunteering at a race at six in the morning out in the boonies can be a whole lot of fun.

 Worrying about something doesn't help. Ever.

Living in the rain nine months out of the year gives a girl to opportunity to get lots of cute umbrellas.

No one should wait all the way until they are 54 to see their first professional baseball game in person. (If you haven't been to one yet, put it on your bucket list now...and don't forget to take some Cracker Jacks and peanuts along to share with a friend.)

Putting the needs of someone else first is always the right way to go...especially if that someone is a big yellow dog.

It turns out that I am a girl who will go to a WWE Smackdown - Monday night Raw show...at least once.

Seeing the Pacific Northwest from the back of a motorcycle is totally the way to do it.

Pistachio ice cream can make any day just a little bit better.

Sometimes doing what's right can be the hardest thing you've had to do in a very long time...but in the end,  you'll sleep a lot better knowing you made the right decision.

Real homemade french fries are a gift from God, and the folks that make Crisco.

Little towns with a population under 25 can turn out to be some of the funnest places in America.

One of the sweetest things in life are grand babies. (Of course, I already knew that, but it bears repeating.)

What ever you put your energy into, grows, for better or worse.

A ride in a lil' silver convertible bug can put a smile on anyone's face.

The thing I am best at is being myself.

Watching football on a rainy Sunday with your Rock n' Roll Buddy is time well spent, even if the Vikings were pathetic. 

And last but certainly not least.....

Even on my worst day, I am blessed beyond measure. 

Because tomorrow is promised to know one.

2011-09-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

(I found the cool quote here.)

And then there were four.

2011-09-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

He's here. 

At last.

Meet Coen Kwasi Roberts, my newest grandson! All the way from Ghana, Africa!
He is nineteen months old. (Just thirteen months younger than his brother, Carter.) 

 We gathered at the airport to meet them upon arrival, and there were happy tears all around.
 Celebratory delivery pizza at home followed, and the family began the happy task of settling into a routine of bath and bedtime, and ...ooooooooooooooooooh! 

It was one of those far-too-few-moments in life where you just kinda sigh and think, "Every little thing is gonna be all right."
.

Fifty may be the new forty, but it's a full time job.

2011-08-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be...ehem...celebrating my fifty-fifth birthday this coming December, and that means there is no more denying it...I will have to admit that I am in my mid-fities. No more will I be able to cling to the "early-fifties" title, and, truth be told, I am pretty okay with it, for the most part.

I mean, life is good these days. I like my job, and I focus on doing what makes me happiest. Where I am having a bit of a struggle is in the area of health, wellness, fashion, and fitness. That is to say,I am at times caught off guard by that girl I see looking back at me in the mirror.

One of my best girlfriends told me recently that this is the age when we should start adding a couple of years to our ages when asked, so people are impressed at just how good we look for our age.(She has coined the term " Plus 2" for this and claims it works great for age or clothing sizes...)

Yes, the place where things most dramatically change as we enter and progress though our fi..fi..fif..fifties. It's our appearance, and our health.

Oh, and maybe a little bit of our short term memory. I find myself wondering why I came into a room in the house and have to retrace my steps back to the point I started at so that I might be able to remember why it was I had gone to the other room in the first place.

Now, where was I? (Let me go back and re-read what I wrote so that I can remember....)

Ehem...As I was saying, the older we get, the more obvious the extreme differences are in appearance and health in our age group. There are women in their 50's that remind me of Opey's Aunt Bee..

and, at the opposite end of the spectrum,there are lady cougars like those gals on the Real Housewives of the O.C.

Trust me here, I live in the real world a pretty good portion of my day, and I know I am not going to achieve the Real Housewife status of outward beauty, but I also can assure you that I do not aspire to be anyone's Aunt Bee.(God bless Francis Bavier, I am sure she was a wonderful gal. I just don't wanna look like her.)

This being said, it ain't easy trying to be cute morning, noon and night, at this stage of life. It takes more time and effort to maintain...everything.

Manufacturers are more than happy to come to our aid with a massive assortment of creams and lotions, procedures, and various little hand held machines all designed to help us look our optimal best. I for one am an easy target for these items, since I am an eternal optimist and believe in miracles. (If only I could find the time to use all of this stuff. Poor, poor Jillian Michaels stares a disapproving hole through me from her DVD case each morning as I run around getting ready for work, promising her that tomorrow I will make time for her, really, truly, I will.)

I am enjoying the freedom that comes with being the age I am,however I have to admit that I am slightly time management challenged. (Either that or I need an additional three hours in my day so as to be able to use things like the supposedly incredible little face machine.)

That, coupled with the fact that I haven't found an exercise activity I love, or at the very least, don't dread.(Never say never, 'coz the next sport I'd like to give a try at is golf...and it just might be "my thing". We'll see.)

Then, there is the issue of age appropriate fashion. I want to look "hip" (oh Gawd, does that word date me?)but I don't want to look like I'm trying to be twenty four.

I guess you can see by my seemingly mindless rambling on this topic of attempting to age gracefully (and trying my best to stay active...and cute, at the same time.)that this has been weighing heavily on my mind of late. It occurred to me that if I am ~~obsessing~~ thinking about it, maybe many of my ...ehem...similarly aged girl pals online here may be spending a fair amount of time pondering it as well.

That made me think of Cindy...and I am sure you know Cindy. (Let me interject right here that I am pea green with envy over Cindy's fit and fabulous upper arms, and I am dying to know her secret. I only pray that her secret isn't being born with good genes.)

Cindy and I have been online friends since...when? 2006 I think. We actually met in person a couple of times at fairs. (and wouldn't you know it, neither of us had the foresight to get a picture of us together either time!)It turns out that she lives very near my Dad, so I am sure next time I make my way to northern California, we will try and connect again.

Now, Cindy is a few years younger than me, but still in her oh-let's-make-them-fabulous fifties. (She's even got a new blog dedicated to this very topic!Check it out right here.) She has recently discovered mountain biking, hiking, and ...gasp!....Fitness Bootcamp.

Here is a girl that can share some real insight for all of us on how to go for the golden ring and make the most of our age, whether it be thirty one, or fifty five...or seventy eight. Thinking about Cindy gave me the brilliant idea to interview her and get her perspective on things.

Cindy has some great information, insight, and inspiration for us all. So...without further adieu, let's get this party started, shall we?

me:Thanks so much for sharing your insights, Cindy! You know we have a lot in common. We're both single girls in our 50's who love to decorate, cook, blog and who knows what all else. What has been the biggest surprise for you as you enter your fabulous fifties?

50 and fabulous Cindy:The biggest surprise is that I like it, I'm actually enjoying it! I still don't feel 50 and I'm about to turn 51 in September!   This sounds so cliche but I've realized that it's all in how you look at things...you have a choice...you can be depressed that you're 50 or you can enjoy it! I remember when I turned 40, I woke up that morning and cried! That seems so silly now, 40 is so young! When I turn 60 I want to look back and say "Wow, my fifties were some of the best years of my life" It's all about your attitude and we are the ones in control of our own attitude!

me: I've gotta say that I love your attitude Cindy. You've got it right. What sparked the inspiration in you to become more physically active?

50 and fabulous Cindy:The fear of being "over the hill" is what did it. You see two types of people over fifty; the type that slows down and grows old or the type that is fit and active and although they are still 50 they look amazing. I used to look at the second type and wish I could be like them. It was sort of a "light-bulb moment" for me. I realized I could be that type of person...I just had to do it!!!   It's more work but it can be done. I'm still not where I want to be but I'm in a much better place than I was when I weighed 50+ lbs more and got no exercise! Also, I saw my mom's health deteriorate over the last 25 years because she wasn't active. My mom passed away this year and it was very hard on me. I really realized how important it is to stay active as we get older! If you want quality-of-life in the later years, you have to use those muscles!

me: Yup, it's that Aunt Bee or Real Housewife of the O.C. thing all over again. You know what they say..."use it or lose it". I guess that's true of everything.
How did you end up getting into hiking, and bike riding? (Did you join a club? Was it suggested by a friend?) What's your current favorite sports or fitness activity?

50 and fabulous Cindy:I hiked with friends a little but it was hard to get our schedules in sync and I knew I needed to do it on a more regular basis. I went to www.meetup.com. There are so many different groups you can join there! I found numerous hiking groups and joined one of them. On my first hike with that group I met a woman that ran her own hiking group with her husband. She gave me her email address and I've been hiking with their group ever since! We hike 8-14 miles every Saturday morning! It takes up 1/2 of my Saturday but the results are worth it. My legs haven't been this firm since I was in my 20s! As far as biking...that was a little more scary for me. I hadn't rode a bicycle in years but I started dating someone that was really into mountain biking so I gave it a try and I was surprised how much I liked it! It's really hard to pick a favorite because I enjoy doing both of them! Since they both use different muscles I plan on continuing with both.

me:That's awesome.I guess it's all about trying different things out, and finding something you really enjoy.Meetup is a very cool thing too, and it's everywhere!
Speaking of enjoying an activity...Tell us about Fitness Bootcamp....(is it as scary as it sounds?!)

50 and fabulous Cindy:No, it's not as scary as it sounds! They don't scream at you...they let you go at your own pace. There are people of all ages and fitness levels there. I did a trial offer through Groupon.com. It's only for 1 month. It's rather pricey so I'm not sure if I will continue once my one-month trial is up. It's Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:15 am. Groupon.com and LivingSocial.com have some great deals for many things. I just saw one in my area for Zumba lessons so I may try that soon!

me: The coupon sites are great things too! I love how you are trying things out in all sorts of different areas...that's how we find out of we really like an activity, after all.
Since I myself am just about to hit the big five-five, I know turning 50 beats the alternative, but...how do you really feel about entering your fifties?

50 and fabulous Cindy:Tracey, you look amazing and you certainly don't look like you are about to turn 55!
(Thanks so much, but I feel the need to jump in here to also add that after 50 our eyesight seems to take a nose dive as Cindy has clearly demonstrated...) Honestly I wish I was in my 30s but I'm not. I think it's important to feel the best at whatever age you are. The one thing I do like about this age is the wisdom that comes from all those years of life experience. I would 't trade that for anything!

me: Hmmm, I am not so sure I feel like I am the wisest woman out there sometimes, seriously. I guess I am wiser (more wise?) than I was at 30 though, now that I think on it. What would you say is your best gotta-do-everyday beauty tip?

50 and fabulous Cindy:I make sure I wash my face really well every night before I go to bed! I actually wash and rinse my face 4 times to make sure I get all my make-up off. If I miss just one night of doing this ritual I can tell a difference in my skin!

me: Wow, four times? (I am now wondering if I am cleaning my face well enough.) It's a great tip, and so true. Okay, slight change of topic here, but I know you have lost weight in the past year, and you are looking great! How did you do it? What kind of advice do you have for other women out there wanting to get fit?
50 and fabulous Cindy:I joined Weight Watchers and I love it! Years ago, my doctor had told me that he has many patients trying to lose weight and the ones that lost the most and keep it off are the ones on Weight Watchers. I've tried just about every diet out there and I really do think Weight Watchers is the best. It really teaches you how to eat for the rest of your life! It's so much more than a diet...I hate that word any way! I associate diet with starving! It's so much better to look at it as a way of life! I still allow myself to have treats because I really hate the feeling of being deprived. If I make the majority of my food healthy; lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains then I can have sweets (which are my weakness) every once in awhile.

me: That sounds like a good, smart, livable plan. The idea of a diet just sets us up for defeat.
I have definite opinions on my next question, but I want your take on this first...Do you feel that being a single girl adds extra pressure to feeling the need to look your best, or do you think it's simply a girl thing?

50 and fabulous Cindy:Oh, I think it adds a lot of extra pressure especially if you are out there dating! The competition is fierce on the online dating sites. I always feel like so much emphasis is put on how we as women look that it sometimes it makes me feel so inadequate. I try to focus on looking the best I can with what I have and be happy with that. Perfection will never be reached and I am what I am...a 50 year old woman and nothing I do will make me 30 again and I'm okay with that. After all, 30 year olds have no clue how much more wisdom they will have when they are 50!

me: I couldn't agree more. Being single in your 50's most certainly isn't for sissies...at least not in the dating realm...and Hollywood hasn't done us any favors either.On the flip side, who knew dating as a Gramma could be so much fun? Anything else you'd like to add Cindy?

50 and fabulous Cindy: I just would like to add, if you are wanting to lose weight and firm up, don't focus so much on the end result you want to see in the mirror...have that in the back of your mind but more importantly, enjoy the process! I can feel when I've lost just a couple pounds and it feels great! I can feel my legs getting firmer every time I go hiking! I guess what I'm trying to say is...Enjoy the journey, don't just focus on where you ultimately want to be. The amazing thing is you will feel and look better all along the way to your final result!

me: I totally agree. I don't even own a scale, because I get too focused on hitting a silly goal, and then end up depressing myself and heading for a bag of Oreos, instead of working on today,on now. Thanks so much Cindy, for taking the time to share with us.You make a great role model for the rest of us fifty-somethings!

Wow.

I don't know about you, but I am feeling so inspired this morning that I just might have to crack ol' Jillian outta her case and try getting my groove back with the 30 Day Shred....right after I go wash my face.

Free for all.

2011-08-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

That's the name of the Portland Oregon Parks and Rec program that brings weekly summer concerts and movies to parks all around Portland. Very cool, especially in this economy. (Have I told you before just how much I love living here in the great Pacific Northwest?)

 My Rock n' Roll Buddy and I headed over last Thursday to see the Tom Petty cover band, "Petty Fever" perform. The weather was fabulous, the music was good, and we had a blast. Sitting there in the warm sunshine sharing a lil' picnic dinner while listening to free live music, people watching and laughing our heads off is a pretty unbeatable way to spend an Thursday after work, I'll tell you that.

People were flocking in all throughout the band concert, setting up blankets  and chairs, enjoying the tail end of summer with family and  friends. This is what living here is all about. We left after the music, but by then there was quite a crowd assembled, all cozied up on blankets waiting patiently for the movie to begin. 

I had never seen one of these inflatable movie screens, but...man, what an invention! Pure genius.

It's just amazing to me all of the wonderful activities the Portland area has to offer, if we only take the time to check them out. (Seriously, there is some sort of free concert or show or event every single day of the week.) I think it's kind of funny when I think about it, 'coz in my old life I probably would never have even considered attending something like this...partially because the Biggest Little City didn't have quite as many urban activities, but more so because in my old life we kind of just did the same things, week after week after week around town. Maybe that's another lesson I've learned these past few years- that life is short and I need to enjoy each day of it...or maybe moving up here was just a gift from God to me.

Whatever it is, I am grateful, and I hope you're all having as fun of a summer as I am.

Publish Post

Wow.

2011-08-21T20:47:00.000-07:00

.....They say it's called a "garage".

See?

ga·rage/gəˈräZH/

Verb: Put or keep (a motor vehicle) in a garage.

Noun: A building or shed for housing a motor vehicle or vehicles.

Niiiice.

Breaking up is hard to do....

2011-08-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

One of my new gal-pals at work is going through a break up with her boyfriend this week so I put together a quick lil' Breakup Survival Kit. It was easy, and took no time at all.

I began with a bottle of soothing lavender mineral bubble bath, added a People Magazine for some mindless reading and topped it all of with a ginormous chocolate candy bar. (excuse the blurry shot..it was the only picture I took of the candy bar wrapper...)

I removed the outer candy wrapper and replaced it with some cute scrapbook paper, made a gift tag for the box and added a card (I coincidentally had a Susan Branch Break up card in my card file stash...can you believe they make such things? Too sweet!)

Anyway, she was quite touched and even stopped by my desk at the day's end to tell me that she was anxious to get home to take that bubble bath....and that made my day.

Easy window valance tutorial....

2011-08-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

Both of my daughters inherited my love of decoratin. One of them redid her upstairs guest bath last week, starting with a fresh coat of paint, and cleaning the window (which had a bit of birdie poop on it that required climbing out the second story window to clean properly...)

Anyway, once things were completed, she was looking for an easy window treatment. I mentioned the cute crocheted lace runner valance I had created in ten minutes in my Barbi Condo kitchen....

We decided to give the same treatment to her cute little bathroom window.

 She had a few pretty cutwork runners, and we chose one that was about two thirds longer than her window was wide. We hammered small finishing nails at both ends ot the top of the window frame,...

 as well as one last nail up top in the center, then we folded the runner in half, length wise, and hung it from the center nail..

then pulled the runner fairly taunt and hung it from either end on the outer nails..

We fluffed the ends of the runner so it hung neatly and we were finished. It added a pretty touch to her cute window, and still let plenty of light in. If you're looking for a quick valance treatment for a kitchen, bath or mudroom, you might want to consider your own version of this treatment idea yourself!

And so I baked some cupcakes.

2011-08-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

I went with my Rock n Roll Buddy to his Office BBQ the other afternoon. Don't ask me why, but it never occurred to me until the night before the BBQ to ask if it was a pot luck and if so, was there anything I could bring along? He said no, he'd just grab some Popsicles at the store on the way to the party.

Dang it. I missed an opportunity to bake. 

Well, after thinking about it, and then dreaming about it all night, I woke up and whipped out a quick batch of cuppy-cakes to take along to the event.

*sigh* I felt ever so much better after that.

Breakfast for dinner.

2011-08-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

...that's what I made last night.

Hash browns, bacon, eggs (Scrambled for me, over-easy for my buddy) and plenty of toast with raspberry jam.

Anyway, that got me thinking...How unusual is that, really? Do you like breakfast foods at breakfast time, and dinner foods at the end of a day? Are you a formal meal person, with meat and potatoes and a veggie or two, or a big ol' sandwich and a cuppa chowder on the side?

Living alone, with my kids all grown, I'm not so much the formal meal person I once was, as much as I am a comfort food nut. Grilled cheese and tomato soup, french toast slathered in melt-y butter and maple syrup, hot chocolate with whipped cream or marshmallows, or good spicy chili...not mixed together, and certainly not all at once, but..give me any one of those items on the right day and time, and all's right in my lil' world.

Now, my Rock n' Roll Buddy, he's definitely a breakfast- for-dinner person. Yup, there is no doubt about it,so....about every three or four weeks I treat him to breakfast for dinner. (He gets his favorite meal and I get to indulge myself cooking, which I so enjoy, and don't do often enough these days!)

Mmmmmm, comfort food, for sure.

A few well chosen words.

2011-08-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

When you're entertaining, it's the littlest details that make things memorable. One of my favorite never-fail little details is so easy that I thought I'd share it here today.

Whenever I am entertaining (or giving a gift, for that matter...) I google quotations for the event, or the person. For this past event I googled up love and engagement quotations. I found several that I liked, so I copied them in a simple font (courier) and printed them on a checkered background from my cheesy lil' print program.

I then cut them to fit in some of my simple black frames and added them to the buffet table...

It adds a bit of interest as well as color to the table, don't you think? It works just as well on gift tags, so remember this next time you are hosting a party or  wrapping a package! 

I heart Cupcake fondue....big-time.

2011-08-04T07:26:00.000-07:00

Can you say "Yummy"? This was our dessert at a little family gathering last night to celebrate my daughter and her adorable future husband's engagement.

Such a fun lil' dessert idea! (I can't claim it, I found it here.) I baked babycakes without using cupcake liners (I just sprayed a teeny bit of Pam into the pans instead.) and made my always-fabulously-dee-lish buttercream frosting, but added a bit of extra milk to make it more fondue-like. Bowls filled with little yummies to sprinkle on top of the freshly dipped...er...frosted cupcake, and... vioila'!

Dessert.

More pictures from BarnHouse...

2011-08-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

More pictures, as promised.....Joe's booth space was amazing, as always...

...and Vintage Brocante and Camas Antiques...

...and ReTreat...

...and Kindred Roses....

...and so were all of the other spaces...

So much creativity in one place! Thanks for having me, boys!

Barnhouse aftermath.

2011-08-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

What a fabulous day. Perfect weather, great company, and more eye candy than you can imagine, let alone photograph!

I wanted to share a few pictures I managed to take before the faire opened, and the crowds descended...(I'll share more tomorrow, as I am already running late for work...)

...Those Boys of BarnHouse really know how to throw an event!

Words to inspire us all.

2011-07-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Found on Pinterest

The best laid plans................................

2011-07-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

It matters not how much, or how early I plan, nor does it matter where the event is, everything always seems to get discombobulated in the final hours leading up to a fair, causing much chaos and usually a completely new game plan.

So, why am I forever surprised when this occurs? BarnHouse (Are you sick to death of me yammering on about this yet?) is fast approaching in less than 48 hours and I had thought I had the perfect plan in place...along with my Camas Antiques buddy, and one of my daughters. We'd rent a uHaul and do set up and big items Thursday, followed by a leisurely fill in and fluff day on Friday, followed by margaritas on the patio. (Yes, I am aware that I live in a fantasy land known as "Tracey's World".)

I won't bore you with the details...(Details involving all of us trying to fit far too many other activities  into too short of a time span...one of us needing to get her  eyebrows done, one of us needing to work at the store all day and, moi, unwilling to  miss a much needed hair appointment. Oh yes, details that  every girl can  understand, and identify with.) Let's just say that plans needed to be adjusted, as miscommunications and overbooked lives created sped bumps....

In the end it will all be okay (Because after all, we know that if things aren't okay, it isn't the end...) I can sleep tonight knowing that my hair will look good, and the booth will be set up and looking wonderful, but the stress caused by the hiccups that always seem to occur in the final hours add lines to my face and make me feel more than a little panicky, even if it is all brought on by me.

*sigh*  Calgon, take me away.

Family ties.

2011-07-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Aaaah, look. (I love a spontaneous group hug.) 

I took this little series of snapshots of my Rock n' Roll buddy with one of his cousins and her hubbs last weekend while at a big outdoor wedding-before-hand-followed-by-a-BBQ-potluck-bring-your-band-and-let's-jam-until-the-sun-goes-down party(hmmm, maybe that sounds a bit confusing, but trust me, it was a blast.)out in the eensy weensy town of Onalaska, Washington.(...and you know how much I love small town America, right?)

The barbeque was very good(topped off with a slice of dense white wedding cake with rich raspberry filling...so yummy!)and the company was even better. Babies, old folks and every age in between. Lots of family and friends, a smiling bride and a guitar playin' groom.

I had a delightful visit with my Buddy's nearly-90 year old uncle, (who is quite a good dancer, by the way..)and sat in the fabulously warm sun enjoying music and chatting it up with some of his cousins.(I mean my Buddy's cousins, not his uncle's...)

It was a real kick to watch the band change things up by playing with other musicians. At one point I think there were about eight of them (including a girl drummer!)in the covered barn all playing some blues together(with a guy that was pretty slick on the harmonica...)and some bluegrass,

and then some old rock n' roll,of course.

Throughout the entire day I listened as various family members recanted their own versions of the same story about my Rock n' Roll Buddy's obsession with music from his early childhood days. It seemed that every relative had their own slightly different recollection, and all of the tales were hilarious,each shared with undeniable fondness and affection.

 The basic gist of the story goes something like this: After seeing the Beatles on television, he began to corral anyone and everyone to listen to him sing and wail on his guitar, along with an old school pedestal stand ashtray he drug around with him, which he fancied as a wanna-be microphone. (One cousin even reported that he was held as a "captive audience" as he was too young to get away...)The rest, as they say, is history.

It made me feel all warm and fuzzy to get to be a part of this special day, where time apart clearly doesn't actually hold any sort of value on a timeline, and good natured teasing (and poking and pinching)picks up right where it left off from the last visit. 

I am a firm believer that if you've got family and friends who love you,  you're rich beyond measure,so......if, after some 50 or so years, you're still laughing and comparing memories about your "cuz" doing his best Paul McCartney way back at the ripe old age of seven?
Yeah, I'd say that you're pretty danged rich.