I miss the flowers but not the heat!

Happy Saturday!  This weekend I am in South Florida loving on my precious family.  I use to live in South Florida many years ago, but got out before it got hot...really hot. I guess that's why everyone has one of these....

The one thing though that I always miss about South Florida( besides my family) are the plants and flowers. Tropical bliss every time, regardless of the time of year....and heat.

It's funny that a true Floridian will "grab a sweater" when the temps dip down past 80 degrees. No sweaters this weekend though, temps are suppose to be in the 90's and perfect for a little of this.....

Regardless of the temperature wherever you are today, I truly hope you make the most of the day and enjoy it with the people that you love! 

Grateful for~

To be able to share beautiful memories of my niece with my family and her friends.

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It's Much More Then Just a Haircut

You know when that moment hits you. 

You decide to do something that you have wanted to do

 for some time. 

Something important, something special.

You arrive for your appointment. You sit in the chair.

There's no turning back.

Your smock is on, you feel the scissors on your hair and

 in a split second.........

it's over.  Your hair falls to the floor. All 10.25  inches of it. 

You sit there happy, confident and proud. 

Unable to contain your emotions, a slight tear runs 

down your cheek. 

 After all this time you can finally cross this wish off 

your bucket list. 

#118. Donate Hair to Locks of Love

You see, this post really isn't about my haircut, 

it's about so much more.

 It's about finding purpose, meaning and making a difference.

 The haircut was my difference and my ability to donate the hair to such a wonderful cause is my purpose. 

Typically, I am not one to take self portraits in the car( parked) on the way home from the hairdresser and post them on my blog. 

 My posts are usually about a project, a household tip or a craft. 

Usually it's a funny story about my simple little country life, my dogs, pony, donkey's, fish and my wonderful family that

 I love dearly. 

But today it's different. 

Today I show you my hair as a way to inspire you to give back, have meaning and to
 make a difference.

 Our family's recent tragedy has reinforced the simple truths of life. That you must love every minute of your life, everyday.

 Love what you are doing and love the people that surround you.

Today, I am not asking you to run right out and get a cute new haircut. I am asking you though, to love your wonderful life, love what you are doing and to begin crossing off those wishes on your bucket list........  

What are you waiting for? 

What things are you doing in your life to make a positive and meaningful difference for yourself and for others?

PS-no more cheesy self portraits. I promise!

Grateful for~

The chance to give back.

Sharing at:
Savvy Southern Style

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My Heart is Broken

I wanted to let you know that my family experienced a tragic loss late last week. My twin sisters daughter Jessica who was 22 years old, died from injuries sustained in a car accident. These have been the hardest days of my life and my grief and sadness is just so overwhelming .

 

I want to truly thank those who have offered prayers to me to my my family. The amount of support and prayer has been so comforting and such a blessing. I ask that you continue to pray for us and in particular my sister, my brother-in law and Jessica's sister as they get through this very, very difficult time.

I hope to share more with you about this beautiful soul that was taken from us way to soon, when I return next week. Until then, hug those around you a bit more then you did yesterday!

Forget about the Pumpkins, I want Apples!

I think my fondest memory of fall as a child growing up in the North, was going to the local Apple Orchard to pick apples.

 I remember just standing there, silent and in awe at the endless rows of trees covered with shiny red apples, ready to be picked.

Moving South later in my childhood, the occurrences of apple pickin stop, with only those special memories to hold on to. This year I am paying homage to those fall memories with a 'Apple Scape' on my Mantel .

My sign was actually created out of 3 pine boards that I recycled from the shop.  I applied coats of brown and then orange paint. Applied some vinyl stencils that I cut from my silhouette and then applied a final coat in cream color. Once dry, I removed the letters and sanded down the boards to allow the brown and orange to peek through.

I placed some apples in a bushel basket lined with some burlap next to the sign for some extra whimsy. 

It's such a perfect way to recall those sweet memories and makes me feel like a child again, if only for an apple moment!

 What's your favorite fall memory from your childhood?

sharing with:

Between Naps On The Porch
Tip Junkie
Cozy Little House
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Savvy Southern Style
The Vintage Farmhouse
Censational Girl
Fox Hollow Cottage

It's My Sister's Birthday!

It's my sisters birthday today, and I always struggle on getting her the perfect gift. 

 She's a wonderful person who just happens to love little blue boxes

      

Boxes that symbolize love and friendship

Boxes that represent the best qualities that a person can have

Boxes that contain wishes and hope for herself and those around her

And boxes that contain chocolate and lots of it!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful twin sister!

PS. sorry it's chocolate and not Tiffany Silver

I am really happy for you...really

The other day as I was reading how Christina at No.29 picked up this up Ballard's mirror on the side of the road

I thought to myself, hmmm, maybe I can be so lucky and find something so wonderful, beautiful and free.

 I wouldn't mind finding one of these beauties on the

 side of my road

source

That would make me happy,

or one of these would be super cool

source

Or, I would be over the moon thrilled if I found this

source

But no, instead I found these

Wait... look, there's 2. How awesome is that!

  Anybody need a mattress? I would be happy to share my roadside treasure. I will even deliver it to you.

What  junk treasure have you found on the side of your road?

Note: Unfortunately living in the country has it's disadvantages, one of them being the above which was taken on the way to drive my son to school. People see country roads as a way to dump used, nasty, old mattress's and their dogs . I don't get it.

Forget about the Monet!

For the most part, any art hung on my walls has some significance. The wedding, engagement and family photos make up most of my "art collection" in addition to some art purchased during travels. Recently I have been inspired by a different kind of art. Art that provokes real creativity, thought and imagination. 

Art that is forgiving. Art that has real meaning and will serve as lasting memories.

As I was putting something away the other day, I came across all this fabulous art that was just sitting inside a box, waiting. 

And waiting. 

Waiting for what?  Why was it in a box? 

So I took some art out of the keepsake box and put them in frames....

                          

I don't know about you but I know what artist I want on my walls!

PS. Sorry Monet

Color in the Winter?

I was walking outside the other day, in chilly Georgia temps and much to my surprise...

I saw one Pink bloom on my Camilla bush. 

 I saw a Blue Jay on the bird bath

I saw beautiful Copper color on the bird bath

I saw a White Lenten Rose starting to bloom

I saw Yellow blooms on my Carolina Jasmine

I saw the Purple pansies peeking out from under the mulch

 For those that live where the leaves all fall from the trees, there's frost on the ground and our garden's are bare, don't miss out on the beautiful color that nature provides this time of the year.

It's out there, just gotta look. 

The Gift Was Here All Along

Every year my husband has scrambled around to find the "right" gifts for me.

Each year he has waited till the last minute to purchase the gifts on-line.

Each year he has probably paid more in shipping costs then the gifts were worth. 

Each year he is wrapping his gifts for me the day before Christmas and runs out of paper.

Each year he has to head to a crowded store to purchase more gift wrap.

So this year I sat him down to tell him he was wasting his time and money. The gifts that were on my wish list could not be purchased on-line, did not have shipping costs and did not have to be wrapped. The gifts that I desired and wanted more then anything were the gifts of my precious family, the gift of my loving and caring husband, the gift of our abilty to give back to others, the gift of amazing friends, the gift of our health and the gift of God's presence in our lives.

My hope is that the presents under your Christmas tree this year are the same gifts that I will be receiving.
Merry Christmas to you and the one's that you love.