Gretel & Co.

Yesterday, Caroline decided that Gretel needed a playmate. Her reasoning was quite sound: "It's gotta be hard living with people every day". (There are days when I couldn't agree more...too many people, in my life, and not enough furry friends :-)

I'm not sure if Gretel and "Chloe" are destined to be kindred spirits, but it made for a cute picture!

Morning Glory

Once again, the title of this post doesn't really fit the subject matter. It was the first, semi-clever thing that popped into my sleepy brain, but I'll do my best to tie it together. As I have mentioned, repeatedly, my sweet daughter is not a morning person. The waking-her-up routine takes no less than 1/2 hour...and that's just to get her eyes half opened! Often, by the time she is heading out the door for school, we are both in absolutely foul moods because of the battle we have just engaged in. Sometimes our pup has more luck than I do with getting Caroline to face the day. Although I have tried every trick in the book, to rouse my sleeping "angel", I stop short of licking her face. That's reserved for the big guns...c'mon, Gretel!

Autumn Sacrilege

Normally, when I have something to confess it's best to grab hold of your seats and hunker down for a wild episode of As My World Turns...UPSIDE DOWN! Sorry friends. Nothing juicy or dramatic this time! Stay tuned, though, as that could shift on a moment's notice!

I am a full-blown, born & bred New Englander from the top of my W.A.S.P.-y head to my raised-in-Connecticut toes. With that kind of upbringing comes a natural love of all things sandy & salty, fresh Maine lobsters served with lemony butter (accompanied...always...by brown bread, cole slaw and baked beans), lighthouses in all shapes/ sizes/ locations, plopping fresh-picked apples into wooden baskets, extra sharp & crumbly cheddar cheese (best served with freshly-baked apple pie), tromping through the snow in search of the perfect Christmas tree...you get the picture. I can neatly check of all of the "You Know You're A True New Englander" criteria, with one exception.

***time for those of you who live in warmer climates to cover your eyes.

I HATE FALL! There...I said it! I do. I HATE it. Maybe it's because I have such a deep devotion to the spring and, to me, fall is the anti-spring. While throngs of people flock to the New England states to view the kaleidoscope of changing leaves, all I can do is lament the passing of trips to the beach and grumble about having to wear shoes (which touch my feet, only when necessary, from May-September). The falling leaves make me sad, the shorter days make me grumpy and the kids going back to school...okay, there is one reason to appreciate the bygone days of summer:-)

I do enjoy the crisp evenings and cozying up under my down comforter with a good book. I love being able to make the first fire of the season (alas, my new home does not have a fireplace, which I shall sorely miss ::sniff::). Give me some credit, I'm trying my best to compile a "Fall Gratitude List" here, but I'm running out of items to add. Ohhhhh, switching wardrobes for the season is always fun and there's nothing like slipping into a comfy sweater and my favorite pair of jeans. Boots! I have a near-gluttonous collection of boots that I am able to get reacquainted with.

I happened to glance out my bedroom window, this afternoon, and noticed that one of the trees in my front yard was blazing with vibrant color. 'How beautiful!", thought I. What????? A glimmer of appreciation from this autumn loathing gal? I grabbed my camera and spent a few minutes trying to shift my attitude. Perhaps, after all these years, I'm turning over a new....leaf! HA HA HA...get it? New...leaf...fall...changing? Oh, nevermind. It's an inside joke.

More Mundane Fashion Finds

Since I'm cooped up, in the house, with my son...who has been home all week from school...I might as well try to make up for the 2+ months during which time I was MIA. It also keeps me distracted from the disappointing fact that we had to cancel our trip to see my mom and dad in Maine this weekend :-( My son had strep and an ear infection, for which he is taking antibiotics, and has now developed a secondary viral infection that just has to "run it's course". That's medical talk for: hunker down and put your lives on hold until the ICK leaves the building!

Last week, while I was beginning to organize our cool weather clothes, I realized I had virtually NO sweaters. A New Englander with no sweaters? Blaspheme! I had several bags of the kids' outgrown clothing to drop at Sally's so...

Naturally, I waited until Wednesday (50% off all clothing, shoes & accessories) and I went with a mission: sweaters and nothing else. Miracle of miracles: I stuck to my resolution. I must admit, I did step outside of my own comfort zone, in that I chose very classic, traditional tops (almost :::gulp::: preppy!). Interesting, yet little known personal fact; when I turned 40 (3 years ago), I could no longer wear turtlenecks. Having my neck constricted, in any way, drove me to the point of nearly stripping off my top with no regard for my surroundings. Not good, so I decided to avoid them altogether. For whatever reason, the idea of a cozy turtleneck sweater appealed to me this year, so I started rebuilding my collection. I'm not stupid, though, I tried one on first...just to be sure the Pavlovian reaction was gone. Sure 'nuff. I was cured.

Who cares about all of that? What'd I get? Oh, before I get to that (for those of you who don't know me personally, can you just imagine what it's like to have a face-to-face conversation with me, the Queen of Tangents???), the main reason for this post is to, once again, try to woo those of you who are second-hand sissies out of your corners. Step into the thrift store light. Why would you ever choose to pay the ridiculous prices at the mall or department store when you can, with minimal effort, expand your wardrobe exponentially for less money. So what if someone else has worn it? That's what washing machines are for. If you're really cootie conscious, take it to the dry cleaners...you'll still save money.

Back to the regularly scheduled topic....ummm...which was....oh yeah! My haul of sweaters.

~Lime green, heavy cotton t-neck sweater with really cool slits up the sleeves (Ann Taylor)

~Colorful, cotton/ silk, v-neck sweater (Talbots)

~Plum, heavy cotton t-neck, cableknit sweater (Eddie Bauer) ***this was really a stretch for me as it was both a turtleneck and falls into the category of "purple", but it looks cute on

~Pale lavender (what's with this change in my taste), angora sweater with a really pretty cowl/ off-the-shoulder neck that has subtle embroidery...great for dressing up a bit (Sleeping on Snow...never heard of them, but I like the name AND the top)

**not pictured

~a paler green, silk t-neck sweater (Ann Taylor)

~a GORGEOUS, wide boatneck, Irish cableknit (Handmade)

Grand Total: $6.98

Yellow & Blue

I may have made mention of the fact that yellow, blue & white is my favorite color combination. The irony is: I don't ever recall doing a room...or any part of my home...using those colors. I was at Salvation Army, last Wednesday, for Family Day (50% off everything in the store) and hit my color combo heaven when I got to the linens section. Clearly, someone shared my love of these three colors and had donated a ton (no exaggeration) of goodies. Now, the "linens section" of Sally's is a bit of a misnomer. Fact is; the "section" consists of 4 industrial size rolling bins, into which all of the linens are dumped. You literally have to climb into the 8 ft. bins, hold your breath and dive for hidden treasures. Some ladies actually choose to take their shoes off first. Me? I keep 'em on for fear of getting impaled by a rabid curtain hook. Shoes also help with kicking through the mountain of tablecloths, sheets & window treatments.

Last Wednesday I was in luck when I spotted a layer of yellow and blue, floating on the sea of linens. No dumpster diving required! Woohoo!I managed to find, with minimal effort: a blue & white Waverly sofa cover, a plaid Laura Ashley bed skirt, a pale yellow hand knit throw and....my only disappointment...ONE thermal lined, Laura Ashley curtain. I found the matching tie-back, but not the other curtain. The pattern is so pretty and high-quality, though, that I figured I could eventually transform it into something fabulous. Now I have the beginnings of my yellow, blue & white dream room. I think I'll hold out until the spring to begin the transformation of my cozy living room. The best part...bed skirt: $.99, curtain: $1.99, knit throw: $.99 and sofa cover: $2.99. Divide that in half (because it's Family Day at Sally's) and my grand total was... $3.48!

Headboard for My Un-Girly Girl

My Caroline has finally taken pity on my incessant quest to slip a bit of femininity into her tomboy world. I have given up...for now...my visions of crinoline, pink satin bows and tea parties. Another era and certainly another type of child! She surprised me when we moved into our new place and "allowed" me to decorate her room. I had snagged an adorable, shabby chic bedroom set at a tag sale this spring: quilt, bed skirt, 2 sets of twin sheets, 2 area rugs, valance, pillow sham, 2 small pillows, a wastebasket, a light switch cover and an electrical outlet cover....all for $10! Okay, when I tried to put it all together, it was way to "matchy matchy" for my taste. I knew I wanted to use most of the bedding and found a Laura Ashley bed skirt at Salvation Army for $.99 that compliments the quilt. I hung some sheer curtains that I already had and put the rest of the set away.

Her headboard was an old mantle that had been left behind in the "other" house.

:::PAUSE::: I am suddenly struck was an undeniable sense of deja-vu. Have I already written a post about the headboard revamp...as well as her shabby chic bedroom set????? Or, was it one of those subjects on my blog post to-do list??? Oh, Heavens to Murgatroid! I don't recall. I could go through my archives, but I'd rather not. I'm just going to keep writing and pretend this is all new to you.

I painted the headboard a pale, pale blue. I had bought one of those 4 oz. paint sample jars to try out in a bedroom, wasn't crazy about the color on the walls, but...waste not, want not! I loved how it looked on the headboard. The little decorative piece was something I've held onto for years, waiting to find a home for it. A white little spray paint to cover the rusty silver finish & it was the perfect finishing touch for the headboard. The mantle top is ideal for displaying some treasures. The bunny was a particularly special gift from my friend Monica, which Caroline snatched off of my dressing table and proclaimed that it "belonged" in her room. I have no idea how long this indulgence will last, so I will relish it until my little princess announces she wants a skull & crossbones theme.

A Dollar Store Romance

Since I have taken a solemn oath to steer clear of any/ all species of men, I had to fill the gap in my heart with something equally powerful, enticing and challenging. Thank you, Lord, for finding me the perfect replacement in The Dollar Tree Store. For those of us who 1.) are addicted to the endorphin rush of uncovering a bargain, 2.) are restricted by a tight budget and 3.) are mathematically challenged to an embarrassing degree, the dollar store is truly the ideal mate! Since we were out of toothpaste, shampoo & conditioner, today's trip was a real necessity. After stocking up on basic hygiene supplies, I meandered down the home gadgets aisle and found these adorable light switch and electrical outlet covers. Yes ladies, I know...I have the crafting ability to decoupage or fabric cover my switches, but 1.) these decals are too cute and they match my bedroom, 2.) it took me all of 10 seconds for each revamp 3.) they can be easily removed when the mood to change decor hits (several times a year), 4.) they won't permanently alter the covers/ plates in my rental home....and 5.) the total cost was $1 for four coordinating sets. I grabbed 3 other sets to use as stocking stuffers.

Desk Makeover

As I was looking around my bedroom this morning, wondering where my creative juices have hidden themselves, I realized that I did work on a few projects during the course of my tumultuous summer. Perhaps if I share, I will get inspired again. That's such a Catch 22, isn't it? It's so difficult to charge your creative batteries when you're struggling with....life, yet (for me) the act of creating something new is the very thing that does recharge my batteries.

Okay....focus on the topic, Kimberly! I found this desk in the early part of the summer, tucked away in a corner of the Salvation Army. It was priced at $19.99, but it had been there for over a month, so it was reduced by half! Less than $10 for a piece with such potential...and it would fit in the back of my CRV...so I could take it on the spot. Irresistible price and immediate gratification...WOOHOO! It's a small desk, so I knew I could find a place for it. It has tons of little nooks & crannies, a roll-down thingy (please forgive me for being so technological with my terminology) and enough drawer space to hide my bills & paperwork.

As soon as I got it home, I gave it a quick sanding, spray painted it an antique white then "aged" it with sandpaper and a hammer. My kids always get a kick out of the aging thing: why do I spend so much time refinishing a piece, only to attack the finished product with an arsenal of potentially deadly weapons? A quick blast of black spray paint and the knobs & drawer pulls looked crisp and rejuvenated. I decided to decoupage the pull-out, writing surface thingy (here I go with the fancy terminology again) and was quite pleased with the way it turned out. I was not, however, as pleased with the way my pictures turned out, so you may have to use a bit of imagination on this.

I am off to drop off more job applications at the mall. Maybe...just maybe...today will be the day that I finally find a job!

CRASH!

Go figure....I finally get my computer hooked up, at the new place, and my system suffers a near fatal crash. Thanks to my 14 year old son, who was...ummm...being a curious adolescent BOY! Can all of you moms, with teenage boys, join me in a collective cry: "EWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!" Fortunately, my best friend, Glenn, is a computer genius and is working diligently to fix whatever ails my machine. Glenn reminded me that it's been ages since I mentioned him, so I'll give credit where credit it due. Considering he built me my computer, for my 42nd b-day, credit is actually way overdue! He's the bomb-diggity, devastatingly handsome, has a rapier wit and is one of the few people who I can always count on to tell it like it is. Okay, now that he's no longer looking over my shoulder, I can add: I hope he'd hurry up and fix my flippin' computer!!! Since I am writing this post on Glenn's laptop and can't access my pictures....Ladies, this is Glenn. Glenn, these are my blog buddies :-)

And the Winner is....OOPS!!!!!

I need two volunteers please: one to hold my shoulders still and the other to screw my head on straight. I completely spaced out and forgot to choose a winner for my mink coat give-away! That has got to be the biggest blog DUH ever!

By way of explanation (no excuses) I've been housebound with my flu-infested (how gross does that sound?) daughter for the last few days. I'm not an alarmist when it comes to my normally healthy kids, but even the most laid-back mom would do a double-take when the thermometer reads 104.4. After a very necessary trip to the pediatrician, it seems the flu turned into a double ear infection, a severe sinus infection and possible pneumonia. The dr. skipped the chest x-rays because she'd already decided to start pumping my baby full of antibiotics. At least, this time, I have a viable reason for my ditziness.

Thank you, LuLu, for popping over and reminding me. Without further adieu, the winner is....LuLu! God as my witness, I did not fix that. My son randomly picked the name from my hand. No need for a hat as there were just two names to choose from :-) Congratulations, LuLu, and thank you again for getting me back on track.

Vintage Mink Coat Give-Away

No, you do not need to adjust your bi-focals, ladies. I am hosting a give-away for a vintage mink coat. My apologies to any readers who might be offended by the mention of fur. I assure you, the minks were long since deceased, by the time I got this coat. Why am I giving away a mink coat, you might ask? Perhaps not, but I'll tell you anyway :-) I purchased this coat two years ago, during my fur phase...amongst I won't mention how many others because it's gluttonous...and I've never worn it. I would rather give it to a fellow blogger than try to sell it on ebay (which is super saturated with furs anyway) or donate it to charity.

The coat: genuine, pieced mink (not full pelts), 3/4 length, wide cuffed sleeves, shawl collar. The lining is a bit worn and the fur is a little dry. I was initially going to describe it as perfect for crafting, but realized it is still suitable for wear. I'm probably more of a fur "snob" than most people, having worked in a store that specialized in fur coats/ jackets. Because of the cut of the coat, I would say it should fit sizes 6-10, depending on what you are wearing under it.

Rules: simply leave your name in the comments section of my blog...that's it. I will randomly choose a name on Monday, September 20. I'm going to ask that entries be limited to U.S. residents because of the cost of shipping.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Fit For a Queen

***Disclaimer*** The title for this post is stupid and really not at all "fitting". Forgive me, gentle readers as I try to recoup some of my wit and originality...it's been a while!
Following our most recent move (did I mention that this is the second move in THREE months???), I've had to replenish some of my basic household necessities (pots, pans, utensils, etc.). When move #1 took place, I foolishly got rid of any duplicates...not anticipating...well, just not anticipating PERIOD. As my list of "to buy" items grew, I headed off to the Salvation Army. I managed to stick to my list...until I saw this 3-piece, antique Christening outfit hanging (misplaced) amongst the table linens. In spite of its very tattered and yellowed condition, I was hopeful that I could revive it. With the help of my landlady, who is a skilled seamstress and lives downstairs, we stitched the frayed seams together. Okay, she did the stitching while I supervised the process. Although I was a bit nervous the gown would fall apart, I soaked it in a bit of OxyClean and put it out to dry in the sun for several hours. My landlady had heard/ read somewhere that the sun would bleach white fabric if you lay it in the grass...on a towel, of course. Something about the way the grass metabolizes/ photosynthesizes/ something "sizes" the natural sunlight. Don't know...don't care...it worked beautifully. All three pieces brightening to a very natural, antique white.
I originally had the ensemble displayed on a satin & lace hanger, but realized it would look adorable on my nameless teddy bear...who I still like to play dress up with. She really could use a name, now that I think of it. Any ideas? There I go, digressing again.
My creative juices have been moving at a snail's pace, but it felt SO good to have a little project to keep me occupied. Better still that I was satisfied with the outcome.

Hope & Faith

The whirling dervish that has defined my life, over the last 4 months, has finally headed out to sea. Sharing the details is overwhelming and too personal at this point but, suffice it to say: my decision making skills lacked rationality, discernment and the most basic common sense. The children and I moved TWICE in 3 months. I'm talking full-blown, pack everything we own, get settled in new home #1 only to start the process again as soon as we got settled. Thanks to my amazingly supportive family (my big sister, Kim, especially...who took charge as soon as I reached out for help) and some wonderful friends, the kids and I are peacefully nesting in new home #2.
During the course of all of this self-inflicted drama, I have had a tremendously difficult time maintaining my faith that God was still in control and that He had a greater plan than I could comprehend. Oh, I prayed fervently and sincerely that my children and I would get out of "hell house" in one piece...which we did. I prayed that we would find a safe haven until I could begin to sort through the disastrous rubble...which we did. I prayed that I could find the resources necessary to put a roof over our heads...which I did (HUGE thanks to Mom & Dad). I prayed that the emotional damage, to my children, would be minimal (or at least manageable)...which it is. Why then was I feeling that God was conspicuously absent/ busy/ preoccupied during my time of need? As always, I get so short-sighted in the midst of a storm and I comfortably rest my hiney on the pity pot, drowning in a near terminal case of "woes me". As the turbulence has begun to die down, I can see that God never jumped ship. He was, in fact, answering every single prayer I offered, in spite of MY fears and doubts. Life is good as long as I stay out of my own way!

Little White Wagon???

After another lengthy absence, I am filled with trepidation about jumping back into the blog pool. Strange that I would feel so anxious, when this outlet has provided me with nothing but encouragement, friendship and a safe place for me to share...well, bits and pieces of everything. Still, I feel as if I must maintain an upbeat, lighthearted facade so as not to dump a bucket of rainwater on anyone who stumbles across this part of my world. I think I'll test the waters with my little toe and share that, because of impulsive choices I have made during the last few months, I find myself in a place of deep emotional and spiritual (dare I say it?) despair. Aside from not being able to eat or sleep regularly, my health is fine...so I'm grateful to not have to add "physical" to my list of woes. Much as I'd love to be able to point fingers elsewhere, I have to own the bad decisions I've made and start tackling the debris. Prayer is, of course, the best place to start. I must confess, however, I feel as if God is shaking his head woefully, whispering "You're on your own with this one, Little Girl. I sent you all the warning flags I could muster".

So, where does the little white wagon fit in to this? During one of my recent run-aways to the beach, it was parked under a tree by walkway over the sand dunes. I'd never seen a little white wagon. Red? Sure...plenty of them! This white one captured my attention...sitting there painted the "wrong" color, waiting to be filled...put to use, not sure what direction she would be pulled in, rusty & peeling, but still steady on her wheels.

Raindrops on Roses

Okay, there are times when it is necessary to bypass accuracy in order to come up with a catchy title for a blog post. "Raindrops on Dahlias...Pansies" just didn't cut it for this morning's musings.

Ahhh, I digress (yet again). After an extremely wet month of June, I know I was not alone in being sick to death of that perpetually soggy feeling. It seemed that my mood was perfectly synchronized with the dreary skies. After a few weeks of fairly consistent sunshine this month, I greeted the forecast of a few rainy days/ evenings with as much enthusiasm as I would a pesky rodent invading my pantry. I took some solace in the fact that last night's "storm" wouldn't impact my plans for the weekend. The skies were perfectly blue this morning and the fluffy, white clouds were merrily chasing the rain laden, gray buggers out of their playground.

Once I had sufficiently offered thanks for the sunshiny skies, my attention was drawn to the garden. Despite my own reaction to more rain (Eeyore voice over), the flowers were sassy and re-energized after their shower. Every rain laden blossom and bud was simply happy as could be. Perhaps I/ we need to take a cue from our botanical friends?!?

Nearly New

Any knack I might have, for sniffing out a bargain at a tag sale/ thrift store/ consignment shop, has tumbled down the family tree from my Nana Colburn. Aside from being the #1 goulash chef of all time, Nana was the QUEEN of tracking down previously loved treasures that would fail to capture the attention of most passers by. I can say, some....well, MANY years later that I love the memories of accompanying Nana on her weekend jaunts. At the time...ummm...maybe not so much. Although my imagination was fairly vivid, as a child, I didn't appreciate the "beauty" of some one's old castoffs. I was also terribly self-conscious when Nana, her fingers bedazzled with precious gemstones, would turn each item over & over before she began haggling over the price. Ohhhh, the haggling: rest assured, if it was tagged at $1.00, my Nana snagged it for 1/2 that. It wasn't until I was an adult that I appreciated the finesse with which she would convince the sellers to lower their price, as if it was their idea to begin with. If there was a shortage of tag sales to be found, there was always the "Nearly New" thrift shop. I don't recall ever finding anything of great interest there, but I vividly remember the semi-musty scent and the way all of the ladies greeted my Nana as if she was the mayor of the town. I was so proud to be the sidekick of such a thrift store bigwig!

During our trip to Old Lyme, last week, I brought my daughter through the "Nearly New" rite of passage. Clever girl: she brought an egg timer with her, set it for 25 minutes and told me firmly "That's it...that's all the time you get...then we're going to Hallmark's for ice cream". As soon as we walked into the shop, I teared up. That "old" aroma broke and warmed my heart as I remembered just how much I miss Nana. My tenderhearted girl noticed my tears immediately and (bless her sweet soul) added 5 minutes to the egg timer. The shop was different: more organized with carefully arranged displays, but 35+ years vanished instantaneously and I was my baby girl's age...holding my Nana's hand as we searched for treasures.

Oh yeah, speaking of treasures: I found a whimsical trio of teacups/ saucers with two dessert plates ($5.00 for the lot) and a beautiful, French porcelain lamp...in need of the perfect lampshade ($2.50). I'm thinking I did my Nana proud.

Hands...Feet...Sand

My second favorite thing about the beach...the smell of the salt air, the beach roses and the marsh grass take top position...is the feel of the sand. There is something indescribably soothing about sifting dry sand through your fingers or feeling the waves bury your feet by the water's edge.

A Little R&R

To say that the last few weeks (months) have been hectic/ chaotic/ stressful is an understatement. Last Wednesday, my baby girl and I set out in search of some tranquility. There is one place, on earth, where I am 100% assured of recapturing serenity: the beach, in Old Lyme, CT, where I spent summers from my conception through my early adult years. I threw several bags in the CRV, grabbed the puppy and her crate and off we went, to spend a few days at Edge Lea. My aunt was gracious enough to welcome us, into her home, for this impromptu visit. Caroline and I spent two days relaxing and recharging our batteries. I took tons of pictures, so there will be more posts to follow, but wanted to share some of my favorites from the beach. Sidenote: I still haven't figured out how to stagger photographs & text (Dagnabit), so the pictures will have to speak for themselves.