The Domino Effect...

Have you ever purchased an item

and it turns into

one big HUGE project?

This piece did it for me...

now, I know it doesn't look like what

I typically buy for my house

but

it called to me...BIG TIME!!

It's really, I mean. really TALL...

AND NOW

my house is in total disarray!!

and get this....it's making me change my whole look and feel of my decor

no more PINKS and ROSES!!

Noooo, SAY it ain't so...

YEP.....

its sooo true!

BUT, I need to de-clutter and simplify

and so what does that mean I'm going to do with ALL my treasures...

Yep, I'm going to sell it...

and I'm tyring to list items daily or weekly

basically, as I get a free minutes..

good stuff too!!

I'll probably regret letting some stuff go

BUT...

it's time!!

Does buying new pieces ever change your entire decor?

Here are some pics of my new look...

doesn't look like I decluttered, does it?

the roll up blinds replaced my barkcloth drapes with roses!

Whatcha think?

It's a work in progress!!

Hope your having a good day!!

Signs Your a True Junker....

Funny thing,

yesterday as we were moving a new piece of furniture into my house

the new beau (AKA...Wilderness Man...I'll explain later) said to me with a chuckle...

ever since I've known you all I've done is move furniture..

it made me laugh!!

Partly because it is sooooo true!!

If there's even the slightest doubt you have a serious decorating and junking problem..

answer the following questions...

and join...

Junkers Aanonymous !!

Believe me...your in good company!!

Here are some tell tale signs that you need to sign up....IMMEDIATELY!!

Do not pass go, Do not collect 200 dollars...just sign UP!! Drum ROLL PLEASSSE!

• You have a truck for the sole purpose of junking
• You can't park your car in the garage because your junk has taken over
• You buy items to sell but they just don't seem to get to your booth (in fact, your new trinket has found a nice little spot on the mantle, or in the bathroom, or on the coffee table)
• You dream of rearranging your house
• You go to put items in your booth and come home with treasures from other booths
• Your non-junking friends tell you that you have a problem or that your a hoarder...lol

But this is when it really dawned on me...and this is a true story!!

During one of my many moves...

I not only have a junking problem...but I have a house fetish as well...

I've bought 4 houses over the past 7 years...

Funny thing is that any time I stay in a house for more than 2 years

my family starts asking me when will I be moving again...

secretly, I think its so they can all be out of town when the move occurs!

btw...I'm on the hunt for one right now..

No really...bad house market and all!!

BUT, I digress..

back to the story...

and this happened awhile ago..

So, there I am in my truck...heading to the new home..the truck loaded to the hilt..

envision, if you will...

Sandford and Sons!

I've almost made it to the new house..

mind you, the husband is waiting for my arrival...

and there it was...in all its glory!!

AN AUCTION SIGN...

my truck went on auto pilot...I swear it did...or at least that's my story

and I'm sticking to it!!

Yes, I did the unthinkable and went to go check out the auction that was in progress...

YEP- I sure did!!

How happy do you think my husband was when I got to the house a couple of hours later

and told him we needed to go pick up some furniture

at the auction house!!

Right then, I knew I was HOOKED!!

True story...

Funny- huh?

Do Overs....

I have no regrets in my life....

of course, I've made some mistakes...

we all have...

but, I wouldn't change a THING!

I am who I am because of these choices!

BUT.....

if I could have a "do over"..

it would be to have an actual wedding-

nothing big or fancy...

when I married I did not have the fairy tale wedding...

I was married at the house of the Justice of the Peace...

my witness was his cat named "klutz"

funny, huh?

So ,as I was perusing blogland...

I came across the most amazing wedding..

and it made me think...

if I had a "do-over"

my do over wedding would look like this...

I love it...rust, romance, and chic!!

And no, I'm not getting married...

just having a little moment!!

You can view some more incredible pics of this wedding here:

http://http//www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/photo/112518

Hope you enjoyed my little do over!!

Oh, and I would play Trains "Marry Me" song as well!!

Tough Love....

Another saga in my life is my son....

Understanding, empathy, compassion, support, comforting, nurturing and believing are all words

that describe how I've tried to parent him...

to no avail...

and so,

I've been left to parent him by....

tough love is not easy...

it keeps you up at night...

wake less hours upon end...

consumed with self doubt...am I doing the right thing?

worried there will be dire consequences...

but in the end...

when all else fails...

there are no other choices ....

(in my opinion that is)

Don't get me wrong, my son, who is now 24, has had some hard times...

his Dad (my husband) died a quick death (3 months) of cancer when he was 16

at the time, he was an honor student taking advance placement courses...

after my husbands passing things changed

no, there were little signs of trouble beforehand

but, nothing of what was to come...

he began skipping school,

at one point, threatened suicide

all addressed by counseling

BUT

NOTHING

worked

he, finally dropped out of school

disrespected every rule in the house...

out of anger, broke furniture

put holes in the walls..

laid around the house doing nothing...

(yes, he was on medication for depression)

I would come home from work with nothing but a mess in the house...

with him laying on the couch playing video games with his friends

endless parties at all hours of the night,

(I would ask his friends to leave but they would not)

sneaking out of the house,

partying was his way of life,

this is putting my life style at the time lightly...

FINALLY.....

my family and I convinced him to join the Air Force

he took his GED and soon joined

now 5 years later

I received a phone call yesterday

the military kicked him out

not even the military would tolerate his behavior...

he stayed with numerous friends prior to joining the military ...

and they all kicked him out...

so, now what?

he is in California staying with friends...

prior to yesterday's call he had not talked to me in over a year...

because I would not lend him money...

I had on several other occasions, but this time I finally said no!

he was working with no bills..

and so, its back to tough love...

mental support, love, and guidance...

but, he will destroy my life if he comes to live with me

he has to show me a track record before I consider it...

have you had to do tough love?

I still wonder if I'm' doing the right thing...

but I hold steadfast to my beliefs and hope and pray that one day

he will GROW up!!

and stop blaming others for his behavior!!

Happy New Year's and a Silver Lining...

It's been awhile....

YES, a long while...

For me, 2010 was full of ups and downs....

mostly, lots of sadness...

But, ended with peace, tranquility and yes, amazingly LOVE...

Ya see, I'm a silver lining kinda girl...

Yes, the glass is always half full, not half empty kinda girl,

The girl with the Rose Colored Glasses...

2010 went like this for me....

In January (January 11th to be specific) I finally got tired of my boyfriends infidelities..

I knew it was coming

In preparation, I purchased another home in October to make the move...

it was hard to do...

but another email from his girlfriend put me over the top...

I packed my car (2 cats and a dog) and anything I could grab at the time

and moved on...

January through April were tough months...

I forged ahead not knowing where life would take me...

I worked and trudged on with the day to day things,

I appeared to be okay, but inside it hurt...

April arrived and I started to date again...

Have I told you its hard dating at 48...

OMG...its hard!!

Match.com and I were partners...

but, I simply could not find anyone that had no drama...

then June arrived...

and on a fluke..

I went to a friend's Memorial Day Party...

and my life changed!!

I do not define myself by being with a man...

but ,like most of us, I do like companionship...

and incredibly, I found the most amazing man...

funny thing is, I had to call my friend the next day to asked her to give him my phone number..

we have been together since...

and, to say the least, he is simply amazing!!

Like, the kind where if he walks into a room I get butterflies in my stomach amazing...

and my heart goes pidder patter amazing...

I've always envied your relationships..

they appear to be incredible..

in fact, I frequently thought to myself "am I the only one out there was a horrible relationship?"

and so, for me

2011

I hope...no, I know!!

will be a year of happiness and rejuvenation!!

I hope each of you had a Happy New Years!!

and will have the most incredible 2011!!

I'll be back soon...

real soon...

since I've still been out there junking-

(did I mention the new beau likes junking...told you, match made in heaven)

and have some adventures to share with you...

girls, some things never change...lol ..

and regardless of what lies ahead for me, I will still be the glass is half full kinda girl with Rose Petals Glasses!!

Take care!!

Kerry