The True Meaning of Memorial Day

Let's pause  to remember WHY we celebrate Memorial Day. Thank you to all our soldiers, past, present, & future!

Please turn up the volume when you watch this video from YouTube.  Even though it ends with Happy Veteran's Day...it's most fitting for Memorial Day.

God Bless our armed forces!!!

Thrifty White Wednesday

Just wanted to show off a few of my good deals for White Wednesday...

I snagged this petite wooden chair at a yard sale for $1.00

Yup...just $1.00!  And that's not a crack running down the chair...oh no..that's chippy green paint underneath.

I thought maybe I could use this chair to showcase these treasures I bought on Etsy.

This vintage wicker chair was bought at an estate sale for $30.00.  It's sooo comfy and solid that I just had to keep it for myself.  Did I mention it's quite large?  I put a quilted pillow sham over the cushion purchased at Goodwill for $1.00.

Just look at the arms on this beauty...this side has a built in space for magazines or books

and this one has room for a glass of something cool on a hot summer day.

I can't decide which look to go with. I  put this chiffony like panel over the cushion that was $2.00 and added a couple of my pillows to it. I think this look is way more romantic.  Just not sure how well the scarf will stay put when sat on.

And did I mention, the lovely owner at the estate sale threw in this wicker footstool for free?  It has shells on it which I don't favor, so for now I just draped  some lace over it till I can do something else.

And lone behold...my parents were out yard saling and brought me over this sweet wicker magazine basket that they picked up for me at the hefty price of $2.00.  How did they know that I had just scored all these wicker beauties???

Now this little baby below is really something.  It's too high to be a footstool, so I think it's a little sitting bench. It was handmade many years ago and is very heavy. (I got this for free by the way)

It was ugly brown and bumpy, so my dad stripped it. (It was way too gross to just paint over) 

Then he surprised me by painting it white, and my mom upholstered the seat with a pillow case that I bought at the thrift store for $1.00.

For now I have it in front of my mantel as a little extra place to sit.

And lastly...you may remember this folding wood chair that I had painted white and was going to sell. It was brown, vintage and $8.00 at a yard sale. 

Since it didn't sell at our shop's "At Home with White Event" ...I decided it was a sign that I was supposed to "keep it."  Don't you just love signs like that???

I grabbed a couple pillows I already owned, then I dressed her in a ruffled bed skirt picked up at a second hand shop for $2.99. (I know...I know...I have to iron it)

So for under $50.00, I scored a wooden chair, wicker chair, wicker footstool, magazine basket, a sitting bench, folding wood chair and a sham, chiffon panel, pillowcase, and bed skirt. Thriftiness is so rewarding.

I'm linking up with Kathleen over at Faded Charm Cottage for her 101st White Wednesday. 

 See you all there

A lovely giveaway

How sweet is this?

Check out this giveaway from Susan at Evelyn and Rose. Who wouldn't want these yummy treasures?  Susan is sooo talented and very sweet. Visit her blog to see all her fabulous inspiration and while you're there...be sure to enter. Just click on her giveaway button on my sidebar, and it'll take you to her blog. 

White Wednesday Party

Happy 100th White Wednesday

to Kathleen at Faded Charm

Although I don't have any special vignettes to honor the celebration, I still wanted to pull out a few "whites" and join the party!  How could I miss it?

To begin the party, I wanted to showcase my dining room chandelier.  She has made an appearance in the past, but I think it bears repeating.

A large white bowl filled with wine corks that I won on ebay. (Lest you think I drank all that wine)

Here's a beautiful pile of vintage lace that I picked up at my shop for a "song".

I found this lovely chair for $10.00 at Goodwill.  No paint needed...already perfectly white. I will however reupholster the seat if I decide to keep it.

And lastly, what is lovlier than white ironstone on top of an old chippy, peely step ladder?  I picked this up recently for my kitchen. (again at "THE SHOP")  Woops...I'll have to check to see if I'm earning more than I'm spending. *wink*

Again...A great big shout out to Kathleen at Faded Charm. I remember when I didn't even know what a "White Wednesday" was!  I've gained so much in friendship, inspiration, and just plain fun... so Kathleen...a heartfelt thank you from me to you!

 May all your Wednesday's be White~

Blessings

I would like to share a song with you that has touched my heart beyond words.  If any of you are struggling with something, please take the time to listen to these lyrics.

 I pray they'll "bless" you as they have me!

And also a "time for change"

The thing about changes...

or should I say "unwanted changes"....

we can fight them or accept them...be destroyed by them or grow from them...

In this "time and season" of change in my life...

I pray to be graceful in loss, unwavering in faith, and sweet in spirit.

Let not bitterness or anger wrap it's ugly tentacles around my heart. 

I know I will one day look back and understand your plan in all of this Lord, but for now it's enough to know that only through your strength, I can weather this "time" of change.

Mantel Vignettes?

Happy White Wednesday Everyone!  First I wanted to show off  this lovely book my friend Mary gave me for my birthday.... (she created it) You can visit her at her blog Chanels Shabby Rose

 My white selection is short this week  but I just HAD to show you a close-up of my new (old) mantel

 I've never had a mantel before, so I'm beyond excited to decorate it

 Pardon the mess you see below. This is just where I've been shoving  placing everything while I'm fluffing up each room for Spring.  Can you see underneath, I've placed a huge mirror behind the mantel?

I'd love to hear any of your ideas for sweet mantle vignettes or links you can show me for ideas. You know...with varying heights, etc. I love shabby, french, cottage, romantic, etc. I do have a mirror above the mantel too, but I may be replacing that one since it was already there and the height is not quite lining up.

Well, time to  link up with Kathleen at Faded Charm Cottage for White Wednesday. Can't wait to see all the fabulous whites! Thanks for hosting Kathleen!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all Mom's everywhere!

Love you Mom! xoxo

 

A pic of me with my beautiful mom on the Norwegian Cruise Line ~ April 2010

"Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds.  Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends - but only one mother in the whole world".  ~Kate Douglas Wiggin

I'm in Heaven....

Give away heaven that is...

Almost immediately after posting the results of my giveaway last night, I discovered that I TOO had won a giveaway! Lucky me!!!!  I won a generous giveaway from the beautiful Kate over at Salvage Dior  which was a gift certificate to any store of my choice.

I told her I would love one to Pottery Barn and in a matter of minutes, she had sent me an e-gift certificate!

I just had to print it to show you how pretty it is.

 Thank you soooo much Kate (and also your sweet mama for drawing my name).  You are a treasure in every way~!

Lastly,  I wanted to point out that Janet over at  Shabbyfufu is having a sweet giveaway on her blog. It's an adorable tea cup night light. I've added her button to my side bar, so be sure to click on it and enter for a chance to win. Thanks again Kate! You made my week!!!!

And the winner is............

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who took the time to enter my giveaway. Your comments were so sweet.  Wish I could send you all something...but tonight....

Watch me pull a rabbit , I mean a WINNER out of my hat.  Actually it's not my hat...it's my sons.

 Hey...there he is now! Thanks Brett for showing up to help me with this. (Blogging World, meet
my 22 year old son Brett) I decided it wouldn't be fair if I drew the winning number, so I enlisted Brett.

Ok Brett...what are you waiting for?....reach into the hat and draw a winner.

 

 And here it is...the number Brett grabbed....the number 19.  I ran over to my paperwork to see who was assigned that number and I still can't keep the smile off my face. (I'll tell why later)   The number 19 belongs to:

Susan

from

~ Evelyn and Rose ~

Congratulations Susan!!!!

If you haven't visited her blog, do yourself a favor and stop by. Her blog is as sweet as she is.  The reason I'm smiling is that I had the privilege of meeting Susan last month at our "At Home with White" Event. We've been blog chatting since and plan to get together for a treasure hunt sometime in the warmer weather.

Susan, I think you  have my email address, but if not,  just click on the "contact me" button on my page and email me your address so I can get these treasures out to you.

There will be a couple extra surprises included and I hope you'll post and show us what you do with them in your lovely home. Enjoy my friend! And thanks again to everyone who entered. xoxo

...Almost Time

My Give-Away will be drawn tomorrow evening!

If you've procrastinated, there's still a little less than two hours to enter. 

Hurry... Hurry... Hurry...

(Ends at midnight, Eastern Standard Time)

Good luck to all  who've entered...can't wait to draw the winner!!!

Faux Floral White Wednesday

I think there are some incredible faux florals out there to rival the real thing. Now mind you, I prefer the "real flower" anyday of the week. 

Nothing could match the scent of a fresh bloom...but for those of us on a budget and without a flower garden, there are some pretties out there to freshen up your nest that won't break the bank.... and will last indefinitely! 

Take these...I bought them at Michael's Arts & Crafts today. All the stems were buy one - get one free, so I said "hey now"... this is the time to get those white roses I've been wanting...

 Look how pretty and the petals are so soft

 Some faux petunias in my kitchen...very realistic

  These are not quite as real looking, but I love them anyway

 Ah yes, pink roses...but in a perfectly shabby white basket, so this still counts for White Wednesday, right girls?

And off the theme just a smidge...but still floral, is my Christie Repasy print encased in a white tin ceiling frame.  I think I may be getting ready to relocate this one to another room.

Still, all in all...I'm most looking forward to prettying up my porch with some real potted flowers...just want to be sure the "frosty nights" are really gone here in New England first. 

 I'll be sure to post pics, but for now I'm heading over to Faded Charm to plug into White Wednesday. See you all there!

Happy May Day...and time's running out for a giveaway

Although I'm under the weather today physically, I refuse to be under my circumstances. Wanted to wish you all a beautiful first of May and to remind you that time is running out to enter my giveaway.

May 4th is the deadline, & I'll be announcing the winner on May 5th. If you haven't already entered, here's the link to find out how:

 http://ashabbymomentintime.blogspot.com/2011/04/celebrating-100-followers-with-giveaway.html

Good luck to each of you!!!!