That is my 14 year old's Bike on the left and Mine on the RIGHT (mini Pearl) !

 

Today I decided to put myself on the LIST .. I am not sure about you . But US (Mom's) (some WIVES) ... we never put ourself on the list. I found myself today feeling very FRUSTRATED with how others were talking AT me instead of TO me !!! GUSH do you ever feel like that .. SO I picked up My purse and headed out for some RETAIL therapy.. Thought to self was (HMMM GOING to do something for ME ) ...

 

 

So that was my anthem for today ..........Happy Friday........ I got to the mall .. LOL funny because I DONT DO MALLS !!! .. but I thought .. love the music .. dum ta da dum .. christmas music lightly playing........ I found myself having a little pep in my step !!!! YES I DID !!! The demands of life were slipping away for that moment .. And mind you .. NOT huge demands .. just demands of ordinary life sort of thing.......... SOOOOOOO Christmas music .. (are you following me ) .. Music .. and then the people passing out samples of either parfume .. whew did I smell GOOD by the end of the day ....... lol ........Then the chinese food was being passed out at the food court.. YUMO ... was smelling good, full, and music going.................THEN IT HAPPEND !>>>>>>>>>

 

Christmas was sinking in... I stopped and LOOKED at Santa and all the little Kids that were JUST beside themselves talking to him... (Made me so happy to see ) they were full of CHRISTMAS and Santa was taking his time and giving each child his full attention.. The simple things were begining to FILL me.... Then ...I saw the massage people in the mall..OMGOSH should I dare !!! YES I DID .. 10 min I told myself . $12.00 I was like HECK I am worth that lol ........

then I felt like a NOODLE .. The guy said TEN more.......

LOL

 

Of course !!!!!!!!!! Since I am back on the list. I checked my cell phone to make sure no one needed me or called me, kids etc......... and SILENCE >> OMGOSH COULD it be .. A day to MY self..... I said YES >>>>>>>>>>> 10 MORE... it was like the TRUMPETS played .......

 

Then ...MOMMY kicked back into Gear... To get some christmas presents and then get home for the youngest to be off the bus .......... WOW .. I think putting myself on the list .. JUST made me a BETTER ME TODAY ...........  (HAPPY DANCE ) .. ..... Got home and just a warm feeling came over me............. Wanted to light the fire in the fireplace............. I put on the clothes you hang out in at home................You know the ones..................

Yea those...............lol or maybe these...............

Yep these............. With COZIE (what I call blankets ) in tow............ and now all is good in my world... Thought I would just share that sometimes ..........We just have to BE US and put ourselves on our OWN list..........................  HAPPY FRIDAY >>>>>>>>>>>>YES INDEED !!!!!

                                                 God Bless..................Looking forward to tomorrow !!!!! 
I end this post with saying.... GOD is so GOOD all the time.. I think tomorrow when I wake up .. My first thing I think or say will be THANK You GOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Like many others... We all have things going on in our life... I have really been working on being the best person that I can be... (Do you notice that TRIALS come your way as your focused in the LORD  !!!! ) I feel like I am being Tested sometimes.. However , having said that I have this ability to GO with the FLOW.. I love the HOPE FLOATS MOVIE where the mom is telling her that she could have CONES all around her and she basically was her own CROWN OF THORNS........Well sometimes I get that. I have  really been focusing on really meaningful things.. LIKE .. What would you REALLY grab out of the house if there was a FIRE !! ! KIDS< PETS< PEOPLE OF COURSE... but what THING ...would you grab.... This little note up here ( I would grab) Its how my little girl feels about me... I love it and look at it everyday !!!!!!!! I have a plate from My daughter .. I would GRAB that and from MY SON .. I have a plaque he gave to me .. That WOULD FIND ITS WAY out of the house......... And my other Daughter  rmade me a frame with Westin's Picture in it .. That would go with me.... ... Just wondering what would you grab? ? ? ?

 

This year for Christmas .. I told my kids I wanted something meaningful from the heart framed ...they all have talents and can embellish them draw paint .. But that is what I want.. Nothing store bought ... THOSE I WILL GRAB...........

 

Might look like a little napkin up there .......But what a GIFT she is and what a GIFT that beautiful part of her she gave to me ......... Kids are a blessing...They are my riches

 

GOD BLESS and be with each of you and have a wonderful weekend.. Thanks for blogging.. WHAT WOULD YOU GRAB?

 Want to wish you all a very blessed Christmas Season. I am already very excited about all the festive activities and ugly sweater and Pajama parties.........  But let me show you why I am excited today ...
                                  Let's just call this little TID-Bit a THRIFTY CHRISTMAS .......

It all started because ...............We need another Christmas Tree !!!!  Did NOT want to break the bank... Wanna save all that money for the fun stuff................ So ..even though I really was not feeling 100% great today .. I was determined to find a TREE !!!! I had pulled Christmas out of the ATTIC and was ready ................................ SO buckle up ...Here we go !!!!!!!!!!!.  Drove to Texas City and
First STOP >>> THRIFTING............ a PRE-Lit Christmas TREE !!!  Tag $189 and GOT that beautiful tree for $40.  (HAPPY DANCE ) Take a look and tell me what you think ..........................

This was her when we started decorating her. Each year I save my favorite pics of the kids and frame them for the tree... The tree is covered with Photo's since they were little.......... Love this idea !!!

 

Here is a close up ............ See the pictures are looking just beautiful.........

That is My son up top and then on the bottom left my TWINS and then  My youngest daughters up top when she was in kindergarten she is a freshman now and then the bottom right is one of my twins and my grandson ... These are the lights in my life !!!!!!!!  I love my family .............. I also have other and all family members on the tree.. Just a fun way that I love to look for fave pics during the year ....

 

Okay this was some of my thrifty christmas .. everything in this pretty bowl = $5.00  Sure does not look like much here.............OH .... But I had a vision .. check it out and see .............

Oh ...How cute... Framed pic of my sister and her sweet family ....see the little jewel beside it .. That was in the pile.............. LOVED it

That glass was like 50 cents and the whole thing $1.00 ... thought it was cute ... Will put it in my shop!!

 

 

 Cleaned up NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 Can you read the LID........... Got these from a sale of a friend in town..   They are worth a pretty penny............. Paid very little for these.............IT PAYS to be THRIFTY ...

This is on a table in my entry way............. loved it ..................................

This I got a couple of years back .. at a yard sale !! Still a GOOD find........... Hope that you enjoyed another blog on design on a dime.....Thrifty Christmas... Hey It looks like a million bucks !!!!!!!

                                      God Bless........................Have a great week .. It is begining to look alot like Christmas !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                         Inspiration can be found just about anywhere... I find it in great blogs, Vision Boards, My latest is Pintrest... I like to save some pictures and then find those beautiful things on a dime. I have never gone wrong...and it is a little blessing because I always find what I am looking for at a fraction of the cost (which thrills me ) ... Take a look at some of my inspiration pics that I pinned on pintrest.. (I print the picture and then look for it )......It gives me the HAPPY DANCE when i find that same thing or near same thing ..............on a dime !!!!!!  

I found the picture above on pintrest........... I love the feel of these blankets.. BUT .. I dont think i would love how it would FEEL taking that extra money from my family ...When it's a luxury item... YOU know a WANT ..NOT A NEED !!!!!!! ...SO OFF TO FIND MY COZIES...BELOW LOOK WHAT I FOUND ..................

Now mind you this is not all the cozy blankets I picked up .. but none of these ran over $5.00 and one had a $96.00 tag on it .. Happy Dance !!!!!!!!!!! ... SO I think my inspriation pic was worth it ...

 

I think my blankets look pretty good ............. The pic  above was another pic that I carried ... Made me happy to find the blankets... Took a month ...but what I found was ... In the summer people let the blankets go Cheap...They sale them in shops, stores mark them 70% off etc... It is a great time to hunt for the fall and WINTER cozies... That is what I call them ............ My cozies

 I saw this old rugged bench and blanket and just fell in love with it on pintrest... well look below and see the bench I found on the side of the road ... FREE 90 FREE ...That is what I call it and see if you think its worth the find...................... SO fun !!!!!

 This is my free bench and some cozies that I found too ! Not to mention that fabulous basket ... Just $2.00 .... Gotta love it !!!!!!!!! .. Hope this is inspiration to show that  you can Design on a budget !!! Have a blessed week... Thanks for blogging with me ............ God Bless YOU !!!!

 My prayer is that your Thanksgiving was blessed and that you had GOD, family and friends around you !... Going to share some photos of what My mom did (my painting instructor) To bring in Thanksgiving with style....

I think this is where I got my attention to DESIGN ... She did a fabulous job !!!!!!!!

                                                     This is my mom and she found this old cabinet at a sale ...and she painted it and trimmed it out with GOLD.. she worked hard to have it ready for thanksgiving.... She did a wonderful job dont you think ...  LOVED it !!!!!

She even put lights inside of the cabinets on each shelf to show her beautiful  dishes ......... Just beautiful .....

 I appreciate all the love and time that she put into everything making it beautiful for all her guests... OUR family !!!!!!!!!!!

Even LOVE went into the DETAILS setting a place of play and a place to eat for the little ones ... VERY CUTE !!!!!!!!!!

 

Even the entry was beautiful and inviting .. Loved everything and you could smell all the great food and candles as you walked in ....TO hug family ....................

 

Even the beautiful ANN SLOAN paint on the dresser in the guest bedroom came out BEAUTIFUL !!! And yes that is me and my mom when I was a baby in that picture ...awe love it !!!!!!

 

These are the end tables...and look what you can do ...When the front wood is broken.. Chicken wire..........Love this idea and it turned out beautiful.................. LOVE IT 

This is the other guest room.. She really has some amazing furniture and projects that she completed to make sure everything was ready for  thanksgiving....

This entry way mirror ....that was a design on a DIME>.. UBER LOVE

Pintrest watch out !!!!!!! this pillow she found cheap somewhere and she cleaned it and then added thsi little hankey to it with some jewels .. Cute POP of color... and looked like a million bucks......

Family.............Now thats what it is all about...........I loved being there with my family .. My son had to work ... He was missed but we all had a great time....

That is my mom and daughter....  Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving ........

My cousin... Me, and  two of my daughters .................Love them !!!!!

 

I am thankful for God !!!  I am so thankful for the support and love of family & Friends..So many that have lost loved ones in WAR, or Sickness...and so on... I have had it on my heart and soul to reach out and be kind to others and  to think of them and not just myself. I want to quiet myself and PULL out all that I can of kindness and make some sort of difference ....  I feel so sorry for the single moms who are struggling to make ends meat because maybe her child support was not paid ..........(WHOLE other soap box ) !!! I want to pray for them .Because her meal will be what she can afford .. Or the elderly who live on less to have air condition in their homes or heat... and they cant take their medication .....While I am giving thanks at my meal. I dont want to forget any of these GOOD people that are truly working hard to make it and Have just had hard times.. Some people are literally a pay check from being homeless... I can only imagine the heartache... SO when We are all giving thanks for our blessings... Let 's all promise to pray for others too... Just do what we can for them ... Even if it is just a hug , smile, anything.... Take some left overs to a shelter ... Or blankets... I think we will be blessed for the act of GIVING !!!!

 

Take time to soak in all the love.. When your at the table and all the kids are being noisy and the relatives are smiling and talking.. If you quiet your mind...almost like slow motion ..Scan each of them and just study it all and soak it all in ...A feeling of thanks will come over you and when you do this .. You have an appreciation when you walk away ...Like never before... ..You never know the next year if that loved one will be around anymore or what GOD has in store for them....SO really be present with them ..........

 

 Spend time with GOD ... I feel like I know him.. I talk to him everyday ......

And dont forget .. Santa is resting up ....at my favorite spot.... Because Christmas is around the CORNER ..............

 SOOOOOOOOOOOO Go and HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING ...LOVE THE RUSTY PEARL...............................................................

 

 

This is my Shell Desk that I have been workin on ... I can tell you that the desk only cost me  $25 Dollars from a yard sale... But the Desk is priceless... It now is in my office and I have had some very special help putting these shells on this desk.. E6000 Glue works great .. But took longer to dry .. Once we used the GLUE GUN ...things went right along ... Tell me what you think .. I am almost finished with it... Has been a work in progress.  I collect shells and they are from my travels... Some from Bahamas .. Jamaica , Galveston, Key West... places that I have been . I am always drawn to the SHELLS or the SEA !!!!!!!!!

 

Did I mention SPECIAL help............... YES I did !!!!!! see why this desk is priceless !!

Kenzie and Skyler worked hard on making this desk what it is today ..............SPECIAL !!!!!!
I see so many things when I am out treasure hunting...... This is the kind of thing though that truly makes it a treasure dont you think ................ The memories.... Cant put a cost on that !!!!!!

Of course she is not finished but we have dusted off and letting her dry some !!!

I add a little here and there almost daily .. She is a Pearl !!!!!!!

 

Happy Monday ... Hope God speaks to you and blesses you !!!!!!

 I am (FALL)-ing IN love ........... Just check this out and see why !!!!!

 I am on the hunt right now for some TWIGS... will spray then and then place my Anne  Sloan Chalk Painted pumpkins on top... I think this makes for a beautiful centerpiece at thanksgiving ...
(Fall)- ing in love with all the fall decorations that lead us into thanksgiving..

I saw this and just thought WOWZER .. I am a bowl collector.. The more weathered the bowl .. the more I love it .. Just think about all the meals and laughs at the table. TO me ....BOWLS are part of our history ... Many of great decisons have been over breaking bread............. Dont they just look like a part of thanksgiving ... What are you thankful for ?

 

I am thankful for my daughters ..

 

                                                        I am thankful for my Son and Sarah
                                       she is in the blue... (his love) .......................

                                      And Thankful for This little guy too... one of the biggest lights in my life

                                                        

                                               
                            Can we say thankful.......... Yes we can !!!!!!!!

                                                                       

 

                                                      Double dose of thankful.. Thank you for letting me show you some of my beautiful family...........................

 

 

 

 

Family ..............I am thankful

 

                Me and my daughter laughing.......Thankful

                             
                                     My beautiful sister and nephew and niece..    ...Thankful