What’s That Smell?

Catchy title but I just wanted to get your attention!     I’m searching for a new perfume and hope to get some good ideas.   For years and years I wore “Beautiful” by Estee Lauder.    My daughter discovered it while she was in junior high and we both loved it!    It was our “signature” scent.

 

However, a sneaky little thing called “hormones” changed the scent on me.   It just doesn’t do it for me anymore.      Recently I went to Ulta and sampled several scents.    By the way, I had to find out from my daughter the reason they have those coffee beans in little jars is so you can sniff the beans and you’ll have a clean palette to continue smelling scents…who knew?!    Apparently not me!! 

One that I was drawn to is D&G Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbanna.   

 

This is how they describe this scent:

D & G Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana is a fragrance made for the casual woman. Introduced in 2001, this perfume features a subtle scent that will bring you the attention you desire. Its mix of apple, rose, jasmine and musk fragrances gives it a unique scent that is perfect for your next social event. Whether you are attending a lunchtime gathering of friends and family or a happy hour with your colleagues, this is right perfume for you.

I remember trying the D&G perfume when we were in Mexico on a trip.   I don’t know why I didn’t buy it then but I was still wearing Beautiful.    I don’t want to spend a fortune but want to find something that I can wear for day or night.

So can you help a girl out by giving me some suggestions on what you wear?

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway here….ends tomorrow night!

Shabby Apple Giveaway

When Shabby Apple contacted me about sponsoring  a giveaway for one of my lucky readers, I was so excited!   I’ve loved their clothing line for a long time and one of you will be lucky enough to win a $50.00 gift card to shop and spend to your hearts content.   Please visit my reviews page here to enter the contest.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day Lunch Date

I know Mother’s Day isn’t until Sunday but I’m getting an early “Mother’s Day” gift….lunch with my sweet grandson at his school tomorrow!

Mimi can’t wait to see you tomorrow Jackson! 

James Farmer Cookbook Winner, My Front Porch & ‘Maters

In all the years I’ve been blogging, I’ve only won two things….the first thing I won was a beautiful Demijohn bottle from Sherry at No Minimalist Here.    Recently I was lucky enough to win the fabulous James Farmer Cookbook from my sweet friend Kelly at Talk of the House!

 

I am having the best time devouring this book….it has some great recipes in it and Mr. Farmer writes in a language that I understand so well…..Southern speak!    I can’t wait to delve into this book when I have a little more time and make some of his mouth-watering recipes.   Many of them seem so familiar as they are just good ol’ country cookin’ which I love.

Speaking of good food, my tomato plants are finally putting out some little baby ‘maters.    Last year our tomato plant only yielded one little bitty tomato and we found out we’d planted it in the wrong container.   So this year I was determined to have some good vine ripened tomatoes for my all time favorite meal…..a tomato sandwich made on soft white bread and Hellman’s mayonnaise with a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper….yummm!   I can taste it now!

 

I bought two varieties of tomatoes….Better Boy which are the kind my in-laws grow….super big and so delicious and the Husky Reds…I already have about 17 “babies” growing on this one!

While I was picking these up I saw my favorite ferns…Kimberly Queens.   I always put two in urns on my front porch and they grow like crazy.   These were huge and only cost $19.00 each….they were about the size of mine at the end of the summer already so I can only imagine how big they’ll get.    These will last until Thanksgiving so I’ll get lots of enjoyment from them.

 

A few weeks ago I was shopping with my daughter and saw these seagrass lamps on sale.   I’ve always admired them and they were on sale for about 70% off.   I picked it up and brought it home not really having any place in mind where to use it so I swapped out another lamp on my chest in the den and put it there where it looks right at home.

Come to Mama you sweet thing!

 

My mom is still in her rehab facility but we think she may be getting out soon.    I finally got to talk to her doctor about her medications possibly making her so depressed and diminishing her appetite.   He agreed that the meds might be contributing to her psychological well being so her meds were adjusted and her attitude changed from night to day!   Her appetite is back and she is more like her old self….thank goodness!    In fact, this morning when I was visiting with her she didn’t want what they were serving for lunch so I ran to Hardees for her a little thick burger (her favorite), onion rings and Sprite.     And for supper she wants chicken & dumplings so I went to Cracker Barrel and got her some along with fried apples and hash brown casserole….she’ll love that!

We’ve been having such glorious weather but today it’s been raining and we broke the old record for the low this morning.    The rain has finally stopped and the sun is out but it’s still too cool to be May.    I’m hoping we get back to our usual spring weather soon cause my sister and I are planning our annual girl’s weekend at the lake house in two weeks!

Happy Weekend!

Hello Strangers!

It’s been a while but I’m still around.   My mom is still in the rehab facility with no release date yet.   Some days she’s a little better than others but we have a long way to go…thank you for all your prayers.

On the home front, my garbage disposal died and while replacing it we found out the H&C pipes need to be replaced as well.    Thankfully we have some good friends who are coming to our rescue and it won’t cost an arm and a leg to get this done.    Also, our renter at my mom’s house skipped out this weekend!   I have bent over backwards to accommodate this person….I let her move in without a deposit, gave her 2 weeks free rent, and have worked with her the past 4 months since she got fired from her job.   Both my sister and myself have given her job leads and other assistance in getting her help during this time but some people you just can’t help….they have got to want to help themselves.   We went by the house today and it’s not too bad….mostly just needs a good cleaning and I will have a cleaning company go in and I’ll also change the locks as I doubt she’ll return my keys.

Other than that…things are great !

I’ve been making myself eat better to try and get to a healthier weight.   I have been drinking a Special K Protein Shake every day for lunch and it really has helped to curb my appetite.   I’m not even “starved” at night.   I’m also trying to cut out Cokes…my weakness!    I’ve been substituting with fruit instead of eating chocolate and fattening desserts.    I must say that I feel much, much better!    I have an outdoor wedding to go to this summer and hope to look a little more fit and trim for that.  

I’ll try and post more often, depending on how my mom does.   I would appreciate your continued prayers for her.

A Little This, A Little That, and the IRS!

Hello party people!   I’m slacking on my blog as my mom is still in her rehab facility and won’t be discharged next week as originally planned.   The OT and PT folks say she still has a ways to go and want her to be as back to “normal” as possible before being discharged.    However, at 92, that takes some hard work.    The worse thing for me is seeing how this is affecting her mental state vs. her physical state.    If you follow me on Facebook, I give a daily report on her….please continue to pray for her recovery so she can go back to her assisted living home.

Of course, all of this influences my daily life…not complaining but it’s a job being a caregiver.    It’s hard seeing her depressed about the situation…I believe getting back to her regular routine will help tremendously.

In my “free time” I got one small project done last week in the kitchen.    I got this idea from another blogger a few years ago and since she no longer has this up in her kitchen, I thought it would be okay to copy borrow her idea.   

 

I used paper mache letters I got at Hobby Lobby and spray painted them with Rustolem’s “Granite” (satin finish).   I L-O-V-E this color and how they turned out.    To attach them to the wall I used Velcro Removable Poster Hangers I got at Home Depot.    They are 1 1/4” squares and 7/8” circles.    I got 2 packs and had some left over.    

 

I also plan on making a sink skirt as I’ve admired those for a long time and have wanted one for my kitchen.   I found this fabulous chevron fabric at Hobby Lobby when I got the paper mache letters and can’t wait to make the skirt.

 

These might fall into the “tacky homemade” look but I can’t find any numbered mugs around here so I bought some plain white ones at Walmart and got some adhesive numbers in the hardware section…they will have to do until I can find the “real deal”

 

A few weekends ago my son and his family were visiting from Birmingham and my little grandson wanted to wear his pirate patch.    He refused to let it cover his eye…guess he wanted to be able to see EVERYTHING!

 

And I can’t forget to brag on my granddaughter Taylor….she is the pitcher on her softball team and loves to play!   

She also made all 100’s on some recent math tests in her class and is the only one in her 3rd grade to be moved up to division.    She and my Birmingham granddaughter McKinley are very good at math…they sure didn’t get it from their Mimi!

 

And last but certainly not least, today we got a notice from the lovely people at the IRS saying we owed taxes on our 2011 tax return from some investments….hubby is meeting with our financial advisor this afternoon to put our 2012 IRA money in before the 15th so this was not welcome news….we’ll be talking to our tax guy cause he’s supposed to make sure nothing like this happens!

We’re under a severe weather alert until 10:00 p.m. tonight….it’s starting to get scary so I better sign off.    

Where I’ve Been This Week (in case you missed me)!

I’ve been MIA this past week as my mom fell Saturday night and fractured her hip.   She had hip surgery Sunday afternoon and also some drainage on her knee from fluid.   The knee has been giving her more problems than the surgery!   Yesterday (Wednesday) we put her in a rehab facility for 21 days of intense rehabilitation to learn to walk.   She told me her physical therapy went really well today…she walked with her walker, but without assistance, 35 feet!   Now she only complains about the food and wanting her hair done!   I’m a little “punch drunk” from sitting at the hospital, stressing over this latest fall, and getting her into rehab but so very grateful for her outlook and attitude which I can learn a lot from!   We’re confident that 21 days from now she can transfer back to her assisted living home.   

Hope everyone has a blessed Easter weekend and you are able to spend time with your loved ones.

Green With Envy

Lately I have been incorporating green in my décor…it goes well with all my creams, khakis and blacks.     I was lucky to find a pretty pair of green pillows and another lantern this week and love how these simple changes give me a whole new look.   

Here’s my Easter/Spring mantle.    I love, love, love my wreath.    It’s not a boxwood but I think it looks like one.    I made a simple burlap bow and hung it on the mirror with a Command Hook.

I kept my existing frames and added the books, bunny, nest and floral stems to the urn.    I also dug out an old leopard buffet lamp to add to the mix.    (Sorry about the cord showing, I should have tried to hide it!)

 

 

I’ve had the cute green bunny for several years….and I’ve been collecting green books at thrift shops for pennies!

 

 

 

 

LOVE the color of this urn….it is sooo heavy and stays up on the mantle year round

 

I love how it looks with the sun streaming in

 

I wish I was a better photographer so that you could see the richness of these pillows….they look kinda washed out here but they are a deep emerald green.   Yes, they are velvet but I love them!    I found them at World Market…two for the price of one!    They were $9.99 each so I think I got a great deal.     Before I saw these I picked up two other green linen pillows there that were $29.99 each…I was having a real conversation with myself about paying over $60 for a pair of pillows and I’m not sure I would have gone through with the purchase but when I saw these and they were buy one, get one, I quickly put the linen pillows back.    (And yes, the lantern still has it’s price tag on…just forgot to cut it off!)

 

 

 

I love the color of this lantern.   I passed it up at first but finally convinced myself it **had** to come home with me!

 

I added some mini-books and two little Dollar Tree bunnies inside….we’ll see how long that lasts when my little 2 1/2 year old grandson gets here!

 

Here’s my foyer table.    I just put a nest under a cloche and added the cute bunny print to an existing frame

 

Nothing green here but I made a new little vignette in the kitchen.    I forgot I had this basket so I was happy when I **found** it hidden under the sideboard in my dining room.   

 

 

 

 

These are real eggs….we’ll probably have them tonight as deviled eggs!  

 

 

That’s all the Easter/Spring decorating I’ve done.    What are some of your favorite colors to use this Spring?    I’d love to know!

Signs of Spring

I know many of you are still knee deep in snow but I wanted to show you some early signs of spring in my side yard this afternoon.

My azaleas are blooming!  

Also, I’ve been doing some Easter decorating and will share that soon.    Here’s a little peek at what’s going on…

 

 

I’m really into green this year and have been incorporating it throughout the house.    I bought some gorgeous green velvet sofa pillows today and a pretty green lantern.     I can’t wait to show it all to you!

Don’t forget to “spring forward” tonight!

Fabulous Finds

I love finding out about products that improve my life and/or make it easier.     I’ve come across some beauty posts where the user pays mega bucks for their products and justifies it by saying “you only have to buy it once a year”!   I even saw one post where they blogger raved about her $300+ moisturizer….not gonna happen around here!     So today I’m going to highlight a few things I’ve bought recently that have made my life easier and friendly on the pocketbook.     I have not been compensated by featuring any of these products, I just thought I’d share them with you in the event you might find something that you haven’t used/seen/bought before.

The first item is a pair of shoes I picked up this past weekend.    I was out shopping with my daughter and granddaughter and we both ended up buying the same pair of shoes.    Because I have a lot of trouble with my feet and legs, I’m always looking for shoes that are stylish, reasonably priced and most importantly, comfortable!    

 

 

Wow!  I can’t say enough about these shoes.   They are the Skechers Go Walk.    You literally feel like you are walking on air!   I’ve been looking for a pair of shoes to replace the ones I bought several years ago and paid a lot for but they have had it.    I found another pair a few weeks ago, bought them but took them back.    I’m so glad I did because I probably wouldn’t have bought these.    Daughter put them on without socks and rolled up her jeans to a little cuff and they looked so cute!   Plus they are washable.    I’m sure I could wear them throughout the summer but I’m planning on saving them for our London trip next year.    They come in many colors but I opted for the black….thinking about going back and getting a gray color too!

 

Next is this little item I ordered off one of the home shopping networks.

 

Emjoi Micro Pedi

For the price of a pedicure, this thing works like a charm!   I’m always a little skeptical of things like this as they usually don’t live up to their billing but this one sure did!    I have very scaly feet and have used every product on the market to try and help them.    I even got a costly prescription one time that didn’t do a thing.    The one I got came with an extra roller bar and little brush to clean it with.     The first time I used it I couldn’t believe the dead skin it took off!    Now I use it about 3-4 times a week (sometimes less) and my feet are in much better shape…especially my heel area.    If you’d like to maintain your pedi at home, I’d say pick up one of these and give it a try.

 

I saw the next item featured on Dr. Oz.    I’m not sure how I feel about Dr. Oz….but anyway, I picked up a jar of this moisturizer next time I was in Wal Mart and love it. 

 

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  I use it on my face at night, before putting on makeup, on my elbows and especially on my feet at night after using my micro pedi (above).    The jar lasts forever and it’s under $6.00.   

I also bought this next little item because we love us some bacon around here!    However, bacon is not your friend….it leaves it’s fat friends on my hips….but being from the South, I can’t give up bacon totally.    So I thought I’d try and make it a little “healthier” by leaving all the drippings in the bottom, which this claimed to do.

 

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I also picked this up at Wal Mart…I think it was under $10.00.    I used it the first time last Saturday morning when my granddaughter was here eating breakfast….we both declared it a winner!  

So that’s my take on some recent purchases I’ve made.    Let me know if you try any of them and what you think!

Tally Ho!

We’re going to London!   This will be a celebration of our 10 year wedding anniversary which is in October (2013) but we’re not going until February 2014 so I have a whole year to plan!    I’m so excited.   I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to London (and Europe) and when I started talking about it late last year it was only wishful thinking.    But unless something hugely unforeseen occurs, I’ll be in the Motherland a year from now!      And since my brother-in-law is a Delta pilot, he’ll be flying us over first class all the way baby!    One little problem….I’m terrified of flying!   I have to take a prescribed medication to even get on the plane but my sister has assured me that the time will pass rather quickly with Champagne and a long nap!

She brought these books to me to check out…looks like a lot of reading will be in my future!

 

 

So many places I want to see over there.    Now I’m going to ask anyone who has been to England for your input on places to go, things to see, where to eat, etc.   We will have a little itinerary but it never hurts to have lots of good ideas.

Now for a little situation I’m having which is waaay off the subject of my trip.    We went on vacation last week to Vicksburg, MS.   We took this same trip a few years ago and loved it and just wanted to get away for a few days.    I’d been having trouble with my left knee and last Tuesday night while coming out of a restaurant, my left knee “popped” and I couldn’t walk.    I had to be put in a wheelchair to be taken to our car!      Scary, I tell ya.    But strangely enough, earlier that day I was on Facebook and my friend Kat had posted she had just been diagnosed with a Bakers Cyst.     Just out of curiosity I looked it up and it sounded exactly like what I was experiencing.    So when the knee “popped” on me I checked into it further when we got back to our room and sure enough, I was experiencing most of the symptoms it talked about.    So we had to cut our vacation short and come home.    I went to the doctor on Friday and had an ultrasound which confirmed the cyst.    Now I’m going to an orthopedic on Monday for further treatment.       I’m hoping they will drain it or whatever because it’s pretty  uncomfortable to walk on for any length of time and since I’m my mom’s caregiver, I still have to get out and take care of her needs.     Have any of you experienced a Bakers Cyst?   I’d love to know how things turned out for you if you did.   

 

I’ll be posting a few pictures from our trip later this week.    We visited the hauntingly beautiful Windsor Ruins in Port Gibson, a town that Gen. Grant said was “too beautiful to burn”.

 

 

   And since we were soooo close (wink) we also drove over to Monroe, LA to visit the Duck Commander….any Duck Dynasty fans out there?    I can’t believe I’m admitting it here for the world to see, but we LOVE it!

 

Happy, happy, happy!