July 1st!!!! Southern Living at HOME JULY SALE!

Edited to add the link to the flyer:

http://www.southernlivingathome.com/pne/pdf/announcements/201007_SaleFlier.pdf


Great news on the Southern Living at HOME front....tomorrow our HUGE July sale will be announced.  I will post the link or the flyer here, so you can see all the great sale prices.  I'm told there are nearly 100 products that will be on the sale!  And the new catalog for  Willow|House Fall 2010 is just around the corner.  Here's how ordering for the July Sale will go.  The flyer will be sent out tomorrow, but the sale won't go "live" until July 6th, after the holiday weekend.  That way we all get to enjoy the holiday and then get to work!  This July sale is going to be huge, and things will go quickly.  So look over the sale flyer and let me know what you'd like to order by mid-afternoon on Monday, July 5th....if I have everyone's order by then, hopefully we can all that you want. Things do sell out quickly, so the sooner you get the order to me, the better!
I can do direct shipping for a few dollars more, using this scale:

1. Orders under $30 with a $10 direct ship charge*
2. Orders $30 - $49.99 with a $5 direct ship charge*
3. Orders $50+ - no direct ship charge*
4. Orders $125+ - earn hostess rewards!

5. Orders $250+ -earn hostess rewards AND bonus items!

* Direct Ship Charges are in addition to regular shipping charges

Share the flier and take orders, over the weekend holiday, and you get the hostess benefits for the orders!  Great way to get some FREE things for your home!

So stay tuned for the BIG, BIG, July Sale "revealing"  tomorrow, going live on Tuesday, July 6th......it's going to be FUN, FUN, FUN!

Tuesday is full of possibilities!

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Sir Winston Churchill

Jesus said, "I will never leave you or forsake you".........."I will be with you ALWAYS!"......Have a great day, y'all!!!

 

Magnificent Monday!

How do you feel about Mondays?  Is it the start again of another whirlwind week, or is it to you the beginning of a week full of possibilities?  For me, today is a little of both!
Tomorrow, I go to New Student Orientation with my daughter, who starts college in August.  So exciting, isn't it?  Yet, my nest will be empty and I am wondering what this is going to be like!?!  Later in the week, we will travel to see my older son and his wife, the ones who are expecting the first grandbaby!!  So exciting, too, right!!!
A whirlwind week, full of fun and excitement! 

What does this Monday hold for you?  Are you starting a new project that will take your whole week?  But you will be done by the end of the week, so that is exciting!  Are you keeping your children occupied and staying busy to avoid the "B" word.......(you may not say "I am bored"!!!) :D

Or maybe for you, it's just another work week, with things to accomplish and you may or may not have vacation to look forward to.........I hope you are thankful for the job and the ability to go to it.  
I was thinking that later in the month, we could do an "I CAN DO THIS" party and each have a goal of five things to accomplish in a certain time frame, maybe by the end of the summer, or maybe a quicker time frame like in a two week period.  That would be just to keep one another accountable!  Nothing like being able to report back what you've gotten checked off your list!!!  The first half of July is super busy for me, so I don't think we will start it until the third week of July......what do you say? Are you IN????
Also, I was hoping to find a few guest posters for July, while I will be doing some traveling......specifically for July 15 thru the 18th, while I will be away at the SLaHOME/WillowHouse convention....and you know after that, I'll have LOTS to post about.  So,anyone game for doing a guest post for me during that time????
Let me know in the comments.......or I'll be asking you directly!!

Whatever your Monday holds, do it with a smile, do it with grace, and do it knowing that we are so very blessed to know one another, to have this life to enjoy!  take care and I'll see you tomorrow!  Don't forget to leave a comment! I am missing out on some of my friends' comments, and I would love to  hear from you, if only to just say HI!!!

Friday Fives.......

http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/138246/summertime-memories-collage.jpg

It seems Fridays come really quickly this summer.........how can it be nearly July already?  And oh, by the way, I want to wish my sweet little friends, the Howell quintuplets, a VERY happy birthday! Yesterday was their second birthday!!! Read more about them at www.howellquints.blogspot.com!

  Before I know it, it will be time for my daughter to pack up and move up to college!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have a mixed bag of excitement for her, anticipation to see what God will bring both in her life and ours, the thoughts (many swirl in and out!) of an empty nest, the delighted anticipation of our first grandbaby.....Gee, so many things will change in the next six months!  And you, gracious blog-reader, are going to help me get thru all of it!! How sweet of you!

But for now, let's have a fun Friday Fives.......

1. Do you have great family memories of time spent at the beach?

2. What would you rather do, spend a week at the beach or a week in the mountains?

3.  What smells remind you of summer?

4.  What food do you enjoy in summer that you don't usually have in the other seasons?

5.  Do you long for fall, or are you one to wish summer would last forever???

I hope you'll dance!!

                                          The Singing Butler by Jack Vettriano.....love this!


For some reason I woke up with this song in my head....do you do that? I have no idea why I was thinking about dancing. But I WAS thinking about people being dealt a blow, a trial to endure, a hard course to row through. And I thought that I had hopes that even when we go thru the hard times, that I hope we will find joy and be able to dance thru them, if you will. And I thought about friends who have true reason to want to dance, and thought that I hope they are taking the time to do so. I hope that the storms of life aren't able to eclipse your happiness. So here are the words to the song made famous be Le Anne Womack.....and a pic to bring a smile to your face.



I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder
Where those years have gone.
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance..
Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.

Enjoy your day, dancing thru it!

New bedding choices

Recently I went to Ikea, and saw these pillows....and this red quilt and shams.  I loved it, and thought it might be just the punch I've been longing for in my room.  I love the red because it is such a beautiful crimson color.....and all the while I was thinking I wanted something much more subtle!  This red really got my attention! And the pillows! Oh, goodness for the price of about $25 each, my heart sang a little song!

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/rooms_ideas/easy_home_renewal/index_bed.html#lnk-3-4
(choose Traditional red choice to see the items)

 So I brought them home, thinking I could  use my cream colored matelasse spread and shams that I've had for a while, just add these, and be oh, SO happy!  Well, the new set certainly didn't go with the dark green and red I already had in there, and I really was ready to go to something lighter and less intense.  But I didn't know what in the world I was going to do for a dust ruffle.  The only (and best option, I thought) route was to get some fabric and make one.  The drop on my bed is a long one, and it's hard to find a dust ruffle that is long enough.  In the meantime, I was thinking that a red plaid sheet I had gotten at the Ralph Lauren outlet about four years ago might just go with this set nicely also.  I bought the sheet for a song, knowing that I would use it for something!  Well, it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, it "might" work as a dust ruffle, so I pulled the old one off, and it fit perfectly!  (the NESTER would be so proud!!)   I did have to notch the end corners so that they would fit around the corners, but it was simply the perfect size!  My only dilemma is that the first thing my husband said when he saw it was..."Oh we are going back to country, are we?".....my heart sank.  I had "country" in my decorating scheme for many a year, especially while we were in graduate school.  I did NOT want to go back to those days.  While some enjoy ducks and mauve/blue in their decorating schemes, I no longer do!  I didn't want to go back to that style.  Now, sometimes I do take what my husband says with a grain of salt, especially about decorating, because he is, after all, an engineer.....he does that extremely well.  But decorating, not as extremely well.  He is the guy that thought that moving boxes turned on their side worked ok as a table when we first married.......really.

So I thought about it, and decided that YOU were a great resource to ask......do YOU think this red plaid dust ruffle makes my master bedroom look too country?????  I plan to look for a pattern that perhaps will go better...the plaid works, especially for the summer, until I find something that seems more fitting...please tell me blog reader friends, what do YOU think????

I still have more to do in here, as you can see by the bare windows......I need to add some curtains, and I'd really like to bring in some color on the walls .  I do think the new Ikea pillows and red throw/shams are a good start...and I thought for the fall, I can bring in some great fall colors if I take the Ikea pillows away for the season.....give your ideas, please!  And your verdict on the dust ruffle!!!! Please add your honest comments......thanks, friends!

Happy Father's Day Friday Fives!!!!

Friday Fives!  Short and sweet, since it's probably a busy day for us all.

1. Any special plans for Father's Day?

2. Is your daddy still living?

3. Are you a grandparent yet?

4. How long have you been married?

5. What vocation did your DAD do?

Enjoy your day!!!!!

A few pics to share...

from our Graduation Open House with the Dr. Seuss theme...."Oh the Places You Will Go"

The table turned out cute, and how fun to find (thanks, Barbara!) the polka dot napkins at Target to match the colors in the book.  If you love polka dots like I do, run over to Target and see all the cute polka dot paper napkins they have in stock right now....lots of colors!

On the menu, we had ham, pulled pork and chicken salad with buns, several dips and spreads with crackers, (you can see I served the chips in hurricane vases, which turned out really cute!), veggies and dip, fruit tray, and on the dessert bar were cake balls, cream puffs, lemon bites and pecan and chocolate tarts.  It was a great time and we enjoyed seeing so many friends!

Real Simple

 If you've read my blog for very long, you'll remember that I love magazines!  Sadly, many of our favorites have stopped publishing, so the really good ones are much more valuable than ever!  I have always loved Southern Living, even before I became a Southern Living at HOME consultant....speaking of that, there is a nice June sale of some 50% off items to be had while the getting is done.  A few have sold out, but if you are interested, you can check out the Sale Flier at my website, www.southernlivingathome.com/sjathome.  Click on the June Sale.
In addition to Southern Living, one of my latest favorites is the publication, Real Simple.  It touches on so many different things, that I think there is something there for everyone!  It talks about many domestic things, many fashion items, and great ways to simplify all the tasks we face in life.  I know I can always use great ideas for helping to simplify, can't you?  I was looking this morning at the June issue and I love the fact that on the front it says Organize Your Life.......because I know reading about it puts me that much closer to actually being organized, right? HA.
They do recognize in the article however, that some people are right brained and some are left brained, and organization comes much more naturally to those blessed with a left-brained tendency.....but sometimes drive us right-brained "ar-teests" crazy! :D

I love the fact that someone just understands me.....I am the organizationally challenged right-brained member of our family!  Hubby is the engineer, totally left-brained.  All he wants in life is for things to be in their places!  I've learned over the years that that system really DOES make life go along smoother.......so while I struggle,  I am much better about putting things back in their places...it makes him happy, after all!

I also LOVE re-purposing things and finding creative uses for many things we all seem to accumulate.  That's why this article that I found on the Real Simple website prompted a blog post in my mind.....a blogger just thinks that way, right?  Anything is fair game for a good blog post!!! Well, almost!!!
This article I've linked to does just that.....it is 50 ideas/new uses for our old favorite things.  There are some brilliant ideas here!  Go check it out!  I have a few like this that weren't mentioned, which perhaps will lead to another brilliant blog post! What are some uses that come to your mind of things you've creatively repurposed?  Do go check out the article...you'll be inspired!

 http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/new-uses-for-old-things/favorite-new-uses-00000000019718/

Friday Fives return!

                                *picture and recipe from Epicurious,  recipe noted at bottom of blog

After a good long break here, I am ready to get back to blogging.  However, I have found that the break has thrown my blogging mojo off, and I've been waiting to be inspired as to what to post about!  Graduation was a week ago, and life is humming along....everyone doing their respective jobs.  It was a bit surreal, watching my baby cross the stage.  She is so independent, but of course she is still my baby!  I have more than a handful of friends going through this same experience but only a few of them share that this is their last little birdie to leave the nest.......bittersweet, full of joy, happy and sad all wrapped up into one package.  I will, in fact, enjoy welcoming a grandbaby this year, and love that I will be able to go and be there as often as I am allowed! :D


So in order to get back into the swing of things, I  think a set of Friday Fives are in order!  Wouldn't you agree?

1. Do you read more in the summer than the rest of the  year?  What's your favorite reading spot?

2. What's your Go To Meal for a hot summer day?  Share so the rest of us will have some easy ideas in store!

3. What is one item on your "bucket list" that you'd like to see happen in the next two years?

4. What is one housecleaning tip that makes things easier for you?

5.  What 's in your glass in the summertime?  Pretty frozen drink, cocktail, water, soda???

I'm glad to be back, but I'll still be on the lookout for some blogging mojo if anyone feels like they've got some to share!!!

Berry Rum Punch

Berry Rum Punch

Bon Appétit | July 2005

by chef Tom Douglas

2/3 cup water 2/3 cup sugar 3 cups fresh raspberries, divided 2 cups fresh orange juice 2 cups pineapple juice 1 cup dark rum 1 cup light rum 1 orange, peeled, diced 1 cup diced peeled fresh pineapple 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Ice cubes

Bring 2/3 cup water and sugar to boil in medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves.
Remove from heat; cool syrup completely. Puree 2 cups raspberries in processor. Pour puree through fine strainer set over saucepan with syrup. Press on solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids. Mix orange juice, next 6 ingredients, 1 cup berries, and raspberry syrup in glass bowl.

Epicurious.com © CondéNet, Inc. All rights reserved.

2 of 2

Berry Rum Punch (continued)

Cover; chill at least 4 hours and up to 1 day. Strain into pitcher. Serve punch over ice.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/printerfriendly/Berry-Rum-Punch-232366?printFormat=4x6#ixzz0qa3u7QKp

When DID she grow up???

Who would have this funny face.....

would be such a lovely, mature young woman????

Here she is, crossing the stage, accepting congratulations from the School district Superintendent.  What a day!

Stay with me friends, I WILL BE BACK....

Graduation parties and family coming in is really consuming my time, but I SO look forward to getting back in the blog groove next week.  I am paring down piles, however, and it feels good.
We did an Open House party last weekend with the theme from Dr. Seuss' "Oh the Places You Will Go"...turned out really cute.
This weekend is actually the real graduation from high school of my youngest!!  Wow.  I know several of my bloggy friends are in the throes of this right now, too......so we can all compare notes and fun...and tears.

I'll be back soon with plenty to share......until then, au revoir!!!