What a weekend....

Where did the weekend go?

We had a nice day or two above 40

Which was marvelous!

I must admit I have been on a healthier eating kick for a whole week now.

Warned my boss if I was cranky it was withdrawl!

Think I ate the best hamburger ever on Saturday night!

Funny how much better things taste when you don't have them so often.

Anyway,

again managed to squeeze in some thrifting!

Tin full of sewing notions $1.75

Love the tags,

I wonder who Mary was...

Great timing on this find because I want to try my hand at upcycled clothing.

Even though I have very basic self taught skills

I think it will be fun.

Chickie Salt and Pepper / Napkin holder $2.00

Too cute ,

couldn't resist..

Appears to be homemade like at a ceramics class

The tail feathers are where the napkins rest!

Super cute graphic handmade coat w/ 3/4 sleeves $3.99

This person was very talented...

reminds me of my grandmother that sewed a lot of her own clothes.

(Sorry I could not model it!)

It looked bigger than it is in the shoulders.

That is the chance you take with handmade items.

When I finally get to my Etsy store later in the year

This will definately go in.

Would be sooo adorable with a solid ribbon to gather the back

or a solid belt to break up the pattern a bit.

Wear over a navy shift dress or with jeans and a t-shirt.

The material is very light weight and would be wonderful spring or summer.

O.K. these handtowels were .45 cents
A little Kitsch never hurt anyone...

So,

How was your weekend and what treasures did you find?

Happy Monday!

Coming this week - Theme party on a budget!

My crafty adventure in preparing a 3 year olds Spongebob Birthday Extravaganza!

Lunch date Cont'd....

Today I got to use a bit of that free time

and boy did it fly!

Dropped off the kiddo and ran to Target!

Here is where I made my mistake...

Any time I go into Target for just one or two specific things..

I just can't resist the urge to scope out the clearance...

Then I get sucked in...

I found a great pair of Wellies w/ flowers all over them

Totally me...

Sorry no pic yet b/c I have to sneak them in hee-hee!

Then a quick run through the jewelry and clothes..

A Cherry red watch,and a red pair of Converse for Liam for $10!

Then I scooped up a bit of crafting items for 75% off!

All under $1.24 each.

I couldn't resist the goofy glasses pack for .75 cents

Think I'll use them for a girls night.

Sat with my journal for a few

and then met my hubby for some Pho 79

We LUUURVE this new restaurant in town

It is so healthy and extremely flavorful

Start with your own cup of Garlic fish sauce, hoisen,and hot chili sauce..

I love the Bu'n T^om Nu'ong

rice noodle w/ grilled shrimp

 marinated carrot,cucumber,bean sprouts,lettuce,cilantro,green onion & chopped peanuts

Ahhh the Aroma..

Norman loves the Bu'n Da`c Bie^t

Rice Noodles w/ grilled chicken,beef,& pork

all the same veggies as above...

At this point my husband was begging me to stop photographing his lunch

so he could eat it!

The staff was flattered I thought their food was pic worthy..

It was a wonderful lunch date!

I should have taken a photo of the empty bowls...

Stop in if you have a chance..

Pho` 79

Jefferson Commons

Newport News

What did you do on your date this weekend?

Lunch Date...

Excited for a bit of a break tomorrow...

I am sure I am not the only one out there with a toddler..

Who when told you have 3 or 4 hours of babysitting time

Get super excited to do "Adult things"

My problem is I can never narrow it down.

I want to do 4 or 5 things and have to choose the one or two I really want to...

The agony..

So tomorrow one thing is definate...

Since my husband and I never get a "Date Night"

We will have a "Lunch Date"

(Dreaming of Fish Nachos @ Mama Kwan's OBX,N.C.)

I'll let you know what adventure I decided on tomorrow..

Happy Thursday!

Thankful...

Sometimes we feel like everything is stacked against us...

If you just hold on long enough...

that things have to go our way eventually..

Or

We can start to realize what we do have going for us...

very much outweighs what we think is not....

A change in attitude

Today a blessing we have been waiting for,

working for and  I have cried over,

(even to a stranger - who then became an ally)

finally came through...

Giving Thanks.

What are you thankful for this week?

Snow what....

I know most of my friends in Atlanta have had enough snow for their lifetime recently..

I have to admit

I am like a kid when it comes to the "Chance of Snow" in the forecast..

I wake up and run to the window

rub off the condensation to see how much is out there...

I like a break from my usual obligations

and the chance to have a totally unplanned day for a change...

So here is to wishing for one of those days again..

Falling Snow

by anonymous

See the pretty snowflakes

Falling from the sky;

On the wall and housetops

Soft and thick they lie.

On the window ledges,

On the branches bare;

Now how fast they gather,

Filling all the air.

Look into the garden,

Where the grass was green;

Covered by the snowflakes,

Not a blade is seen.

Now the bare black bushes

All look soft and white,

Every twig is laden,

What a pretty sight!





Thrifting in a flash...

So, it was crazy cold here this weekend.

Our babysitter is recovering from surgery and is doing well.

We had another bathroom pipe break off !

(living in a 100 yr old house this kind of stuff doesn't phase me anymore)

And I still managed to squeeze in some thrifting.

I have to tell the story of the pipe first.

I have been reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Ruben

One of the things I have decided to do is go to bed earlier in order to have more energy.

Yesterday I was just so worn out I obviously slept like the dead.

My husband said the pipe broke off after I went to bed.

He yelled for me several times

When I wouldn't rouse he ran down the stairs

Or as he explained it "fell down the stairs"

Took out 2 spindles from the banister

And had to run outside to shut off the water!

I felt so bad, yet shocked, and then realized I am sleeping very well!

All this and I had the energy to thrift ...and scored well in my book!

 Everything in this photo totalled about $16.00

I got two of the platter for $2.00 each

The Coverlet underneath was handmade (of course in my favorite shade of green) $5.00

The tin was $1.00 - I have one or two similar ones

Watch $2.00

Necklaces $1.50 for both

All the rhinestone jewelry $5.00!

I hope to make the jewelry into an upcycled piece of original jewelry...

So what did you find this weekend?

Check out http://apronthriftgirl.typepad.com

Happy Monday!

Snug as a bug....

Most of us have experienced an unusually cold winter so far.

In honor of my sister in Chicago

 where it was -4 degrees a day or so ago

I decided to share some photos...

These Highland Sheep...

Produce the wool for these blankets.

Actually the labels on them call them Rugs...

I'm not sure if that is just the Scottish term for blanket...

Or if I love sleeping under my rug!

These are the absolutely most warm blankets ever!

They come in lots of beautiful colors as well, not the usual plaids you expect.

I bought my second one this year

and it has not seen a day of unuse since sometime in October.

So here is to staying warm this weekend

Snug as a Bug in a Rug!

Looking at things differently....

Yesterday going in to work

I knew thought I had two difficult tasks ahead of me.

I decided before I walked out the door to do

something different..

I told myself "Maybe I'll be surprised"

"These two things will turn out just fine, and maybe even great!"

And do you know what?

They did turn out great!

Other than not feeling well when I got home I had a really good day.

Instead of going in with that UGHHHH mentality,

I was open to what I could do to change how these people felt.

Truely it was fear that had been doing the talking for them previously...

I have found over time that a lot of angry, or people who are short with you

are really truely afraid of something. Their attitude is their defense mechanism.

They make it hard for you to get past that..

but if you really give them a chance and try to TAKE THE TIME

eventually most come round..

and afterwards you have really made a connection

with someone who really needed it.

I'm not saying it is easy...but you both benefit in my eyes.

Try it out this weekend or next week...let me know how it went.

Simple Gratitude....

Do you find yourself coming home from work

Overwhelmed

Stressed Out

Wanting to Vent?

I've realized lately that I let a lot of little things get the best of me.

Who wants to hear the same old "Roooar" out of you every night?

To be a better mother, wife, self.

I've decided to remind myself nightly of some of the very simple things

that make me Happy

I've found the last few days that the good things

definately outweigh the one or two that I've carried around with me.

So....

Here is todays list of a few of the good things..

*Iced Coffee

(no matter what IC ALWAYS makes me feel better)

*Mrs.A who thinks I am the greatest at what I do

(proclaiming that to my boss was wonderful)

*A husband who made it through today and still cooked dinner!

So simple but made everything so much better today....

What are you simply greatful for?

Gifts

After a long day at work

is there anything better

than the uncontrollable giggles of a 3 year old?

I am just glad he is choosing to laugh.

Last night we put him through

the horrors of a haircut!

I had to give up on the "Messy on purpose" look.

His hair had gotten so long gel would'nt even hold it!

I know a lot of us who chose to have children a little bit later in life sometimes struggle with being new parents. Take that back, I think everyone struggles, even if they won't admit it.

Those giggles, hugs, happy dances for things like popsicles, and kisses for no reason at all

can take a really crummy day at work, or a couple of temper tantrums

and melt it all away.

I'm so greatful this gift of a boy I was given has put so many things in perspective for us.

Stop today and think of some of the most simple things that  make you happy....

The Art of the Deal.....

If you know me, or if you are getting to know me,

there is one thing you should definately be aware of....

I love to get a good deal...

Mainly thrifting,junking,picking,or shopping the clearance at Target!

It is like a tresure hunt to me.

As the weather gets better I can't wait for the yard and estate sales.

A fellow "Thrifter" posts all her finds on what she calls

"Thriftshare"

http://apronthriftgirl.typepad.com/

I thought I'd share a few of my finds from this weekend...

I got these cute graphic mugs for $1 each!

They reminds me of some at Anthropologie only a whole lot less $!

I gasped when I spied this on a table at a church sale... 

Vintage camera $4!

Original box w/ the directions still inside.

Love the kids in the picture

Another thing you should know about me is the color of this camera...

Jade green is my FAVORITE !

I started collecting Jadeite long before Martha Stewart ran up all the prices!

What did you find this weekend?

Happy Monday!

Encaustic What?

                          Another fellow artist has been delving into the world of Encaustics...
                                                                       Wax that is..
                        I thought I'd share two pieces I created with this technique this summer

Layer upon layer of hot wax

Using several mediums in each piece

Collage elements, Fiber,Carving, Foils and even a little Fire!



This section has almost every element pictured..

The young girl was a B&W photo

all the subtle color on her I mixed into the wax layers

The Background is handmade fibrous paper

Her headpiece and the birds are all tiny pieces I fit together myself

I wish the picture did it justice but all the color on her jewlery,flowers and sleeves

were achieved w/ foil transfer it is truely beautiful in the light

Lastly the copper sheen to the left is where the fire comes in..

If you use shellac and very quickly light it on fire

the shellac burns off and gives you this interesting texture.

(I would not try this unless you have someone who is experienced w/ you)

Check out Lara's blog to see her tutorial

http://modernprairiegirl.com/

She is an amazing photographer and thoughtful writer.

Happy Weekend to ALL!

Sighhh......

Today was about new beginnings....



Trying to remember to relax for a change





Getting away from Toxic people and behaviors



                          Remembering that there is joy in the smallest of actions
     

Remembering to feed the soul...

Who is the Pam you know?

I watched "The Julie / Julia Project" tonight.
Kind of ironic because I had some similar reasons for wanting to start my blog.
I wanted to feel like I'm doing something other than being someones employee, mother, wife.
I have needed to get back to some of the things that make me "Pam" so that I can be
a better Wife , Mother, Friend , and Self!
So thanks to all my friends and family who have seen me on the roller coaster and who have seen me

on the bench watching it all go by sometimes. Thanks for the handfull I can really call supporters

weather I wanted to hear what you had to say or not, or if you were just there to listen.

I am here to try and now say "AHHHHH" and breathe

 deeply..........

Think warm and sunny....

 Thought I would share a few pics from our summer vacation to take your mind off the snow.....

This was a HUGE chalk drawing I did by the pool, I had calloused fingertips the next day
but it was so much fun.



My boy...



Sunset in Corolla....



Tidal pool.....





Put on some suntan lotion that smells of coconut 

Turn on  Bob Marley or Jack Johnson

Make yourself a Pina'Colada or pop open a Corona

Close your eyes...Ahhh, I feel warmer already....

Day two ... or Tuesday..

So, tonight was spent figuring out this playlist gadget...
Because if you know me you know I love music...
And yes, it is HUGE! I'll figure out eventually how to size it down...Tee-Hee it is kind of funny.
On to some real thoughts....
Have you ever done something for someone totally anonymous?
The concept is doing the task without any expectation of praise from other people or the person you are doing it for. I see people do "good deeds" all the time, and yet know they really also want some sort of recognition for what they did. I know it feels good, but the task was to help someone ELSE out and maybe make THEIR life easier or give THEM a boost.
  Last week a girl I know who is  probably about to lose her home and had to take her child to a 2nd hand store for the first time for clothes was treated to one of these anonymous gestures. Someone paid for her coffee...something that simple...she talked about it several times that morning and her face lit up each time..she was so tickled and yet thankful. Now she could use that money for something else...Times are hard and sometimes that cup of coffee or getting your nails done is the "luxury" that makes some people feel the semblance of their old life for one moment..
What I'm getting at is this person who paid for her coffee has no idea, or maybe they do ,what a boost that gesture gave to this person who is hurting right now. I know they call this Paying It Forward..yes I've seen the movie. I think this is the perfect time to challenge some of you to try this out. This is definately not The Great Depression and lots of us are doing without things we never had to...but one small gesture could really make someones day...Think about it and let me know this week if you tried it out!
Much Love.
(P.S. - to all my grammer freak friends I apologize now and forever..I'm the creative one - please no comments on the grammer b/c I know it ain't always correct!)

Day One.........

So Here goes....Day one in my new adventure of blogging...
Creativity is no longer limited to paint,paper,glue and pens. I'm so excited and hope you will enjoy the journey with me....

Much Love.