Time Flies...

Good grief...

Where does time go?

I have lots to tell...

but no free time

so, enjoy these pics and I'll be right back

gotta do taxes...

post stuff to the store..

WORK

clean the house

pay the bills

watch "The Bachelor" tonight...yes, I watch it...I'm a sap

thank god he got rid of Michelle!!

did I say WORK..

and WORK

and WORK

I'll be back...

with this question....

can a girl have a male bestie or BFF?

Until next time...be safe and enjoy!

Inquiring minds want to know...

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I'm a giver!!

Simple fact, I give with no expectations....

because...

that's the way its always been..to me, expectations bring disappointment!!

however, this year, for Valentine's Day...

its different...

Yes, I'll give WM a little something...

BUT....

he has given me something soooo much more!!

His LOVE!!

and for that...

I'm ever so happy!!

Hope you have a wonderful Day!!

Whatcha Doing this Weekend....

Do you have any big plans for the weekend?

We are heading to an auction tonight..

OMG- it looks fabulous!

It will be hard to contain myself..

I need to practice control-

I'll have my Wilderness Man (WM) with me...

I know I've told you...

but, he's such a keeper..

I still melt just looking into his green eyes...

hearing his voice...

you get the picture!!

he will keep me in line...

Yeah, that's the ticket...

but I think he's sorta digging the auction thingy..

we went to one last Friday and he spent more than me...

REALLY!!

and now he's starting to put things in my booth...

we might have to have a small chat...just kidding!

he's much more practical than me...

I would rather live on bread and water

and spend my money on junk...

truly!!

Here are some pics of the auction tonight...

Other than that, no big plans.....

we'll (more like WM will...but it sounds like I'm a team player when I put we'll...)

probably work on getting stuff out of my garage and into the booth tomorrow..

my little car has been relegated to the driveway...

AGAIN.....

it had the pleasure of staying in the garage for almost a whole year...

So whatcha got going on this weekend...

Are you going out with your honey for Valentine's Day?

last weekend, at the auction, WM bought me a crock for my Valentine's Day gift..

SWOON- love him!!

he asked me to buy him an enamelware coffee pot...which I already gave him...

AGAIN, he's a keeper...loves junk!

Its the first time I've ever bought an antique for a gift for a man...

but, I have another surprise for him...

it's not an antique...it relates to fishing!!

he loves fishing, hunting, canoeing, hiking...

essentially anything outdoors..

hence the name, Wilderness Man!!

We have a little fund going so we can buy kayaks...

Romantic, huh?

But, its so much fun!!

Hope ya'll have a good weekend!!

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!!