The Week that Was.....and the wonderful lesson it taught me....

At 3 a.m. Tuesday morning I got a call from work and that is never good....it went downhill from there and I literally did not leave the house or get dressed until Friday. I was on calls and status updates every 2 hours and watched 4 sunrise and sunsets over my laptop screen. It does have a happy ending - no business was lost, my findings were validated my SUPERB team was there by my side every inch of the way and I am so proud of all of them. I don't like the political portion of these kinds of things so I will just leave that alone. I tell you this is one time I wish I was a dog with a tail to wag as I sure would of!!!

Between the every 2 hour status/calls I would make myself get up from the lap top and at least look out at a distance as my eyes were all but gone. My ears hurt from having 2 (yes 2) phones up to both ears most of the time....I was done....but what also kept me going was when I did look around I saw things that are priceless to me and made me choke with love and pride and they were really the little things that meant so much....

The way my husband puts all his valuables and important 'stuff' in one corner of the kitchen counter

The half played with Ark that Brody loves

The lighted pumpkin that Adam gave me when he worked at KMart when he was 16 (he is 32)

The picture Dylan drew for me that has our names and a big heart and he even drew Rocky in it

.....and Rocky, constantly by my side, encouraging me, staying close, caring.

I am so happy the problem a work is resolved and I would never want to go thru that again - but my lesson was worth learning....precious things I treasure about my life.

Wednesday Thrift Store Finds

Yes, today is Wednesday and that means Thrift Store Shopping!

I did well today!!! Found 3 great buys! Total $12.95

1 - Brand new condition and perfect style red dress from the 80's for $3.00 (Not to worry, you won't see me in it other than for a Costume Halloween Party - more on that later.

2 - A very cute 1940's wooden childs chair (oak) for $5.00 - and made quick use of that by my front door entry with a fall leaf bow and a sparkling pumpkin on it.

3 - Fisher Price Alphabet Ark and Animals- for $4.95 for my sweet boys...who by the way came by tonight after I had it all cleaned up and loved playing with it.

Have you found any fun treasurers this week???

A BitterSWEET surprise!

My wonderful, talented and thoughtful cousin, Elizabeth (Biz to us) send me the nicest surprise via the mail!

Background: She lives in a fantastic vintage home in a very small town in So. Illinois. She is lover of all creative things....she is an avid collector, has an eye for just the right thing,, makes you feel loved and often does random acts of kindness in the most special way. For years our family has supported the Spoon River Drive. Biz knows every nook and cranny in every little town in the beautiful fall colored drive. I was lucky enough once to go with her and treasure many wonderful memories from that day. My cousins mom, Connie, and my mom went with us. It was visual overload - each and every stop more and more beautiful and I bought so many things. From a hand carved walking stick to a salt box painting to craft decorations to sampling each and every home made sandwich and treat that each stop has as their speciality. The Amish have booths and sell the most wonderful hand made items and mums they grow....old carts filled with colorful gourds and on and on and on - too much to list in my humble blog. I wish I could take you all there! This wonderful event is where I held and purchased my first wonderful branches of Bittersweet. I still have them dried and displayed at home. The children used to take it to teachers and it only can be harvested about this time of year - I think it is around the first frost. I have seen the silk and plastic varieties but never the real deal and it is so beautiful (to me).....so.....

.....today when I came home from work there was a wonderful white PO box on my doorstep! Inside the box was a sweet note that said 'Spoon River in a Box' (told you she was creative). Inside were the most wonderful treasurers - A handpainted Spoon with ghosts and pumpkins (what a perfect Spoon River souvenir), a couple of wonderful hand painted pumpkins, a Spoon River 43rd Annual Program showcasing each and every stop and a fantastic Spoon River cookbook with several of the stops's recipes....and the most sweetest branch of fresh bittersweet.....I am such a lucky girl to receive such a wonderful package - THANK YOU BIZ!!!

I had to share this picture with you ...I am still smiling for the thoughtfulness and kindness...

Has anyone made your day lately when you least expect it?

The Witches at Gardner Village

For years I have had to go to SLC for business. And, years ago some of my SLC friends took me to Gardner Village and I fell in love with the place. It is an old Grist Mill and has many historic houses surrounding it and each one is a different kind of boutique gift shop. If that isn't enough, during the holidays they decorate with the most wonderful themes. On a recent trip up to see my parents and to care of them, I drove thru SLC and of course made the stop at Gardners. The Witches were out and they are one of my favorite designs that they do. They are about 8 feet tall and I have included a few and click on the link on my favorite places to shop to see more. They even do a Witch a Pallooza (play) and many children and ladies dress up as Witches and browse around. At the main restaurant, Archibalds, they do a mean fried green tomato, but the wait was over an hour so had to pass this time. At Christmas they do Elves, at Easter they do Bunnies and on and on for the holidays. Hope you get to enjoy a stop there someday!

Steve's Cooking!

I tried to make the deal....."I have cooked for the first 25 years - you cook for the next 35' but I could not close it! However, Steve, randomly will find a recipe he wants to try and take over the kitchen and whip up some wonderful delight. This is a rare but wonderful treat! After we sample the new dish we vote, keeper or loser. Happy to say most of them are keepers as is this one.....Fried Rice with Shrimp and Sausage Kabobs....Yummy - you can make this for me anytime!!!

Weekly Thrift Store Finds

I have always loved 'Thrifting'. When I travel for work to places like Nashville, SLC, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Scottsdale, St. Louis, Bethesda, etc., if I have any time to myself I always squeeze in a Thrift Store Stop. Sometimes it makes it a little interesting in my luggage home (I have been known to travel with a cardboard box full of treasurers). I used to go with my mom when I was younger, I have been with my sister to lots of stores in Seattle and Idaho and my daughter has taken Thrifting to a new level.....more on that later.

So in my routine of life - which is vital to my sanity - much like my daily routine that I have blogged about - I have a weekly lunchtime routine (surprised - no). Most of the time I never get to go to lunch, so if I go in uber early and plan my meetings just right and no chaos happens (rare) I try to head out of the office and get some fresh air, a quick stop and a McDonald's 79 cent diet coke - yes I am living La Dolce Vita! Does my husband know and appreciate how low maintenance I am?....but I digress.

Lunch Time Schedule

Monday - This is errand day, taking checks to the bank for my dads caregivers and post office.

Tuesday - Browsing at Ross - 10 percent off for Seniors Day (don't judge)

Wednesday - Thrift Store day - we have a wonderful 'plaza' of shops in nearby Poway

Thursday - no lunch this day - booked solid in meetings I have not figured a way to get out of

Friday - another rare day for lunch, too much to do before the weekend, but maybe a chance to stop for a few groceries or get my nails done.

I usually do pretty good on Wednesdays at the Thrift shops. The volunteers are so nice and many of them elderly and I love their work ethic and their attention to detail and the fact they are still contributing at 80 and 90 (yes 90) plus....gives me hope. I try and limit myself to find what I can for $10.00 or under.

Last Wednesday was 'Poway Days' and everything was 50 percent off! I got the Ball Popper for $3.00 and my grandsons love it (they had one at home but still, what a great toy). Brody is my future engineer and loves watching how things work and since this has a clear channel to move the balls he is quite entertained. The baseball mitt was $3.00 also and perfect for my Little Yankee Dylan for his 'ball games' here. He demonstrates to me how he holds the mitt on the ground ready for that ground ball and the theory behind it and the right way to do it. That kids is a trip.

This Wednesday I found this Play mobile Pirate Treasure Chest (brand new) for $5.00 - it is for sale at Target for $39.00. I also found this most adorable and beautiful glazed Mr. Turkey for my collection for $3.00. I love collecting turkeys and have collected them for years. I scour the thrift stores always for turkey S&P and planters like this one. I love all the fall colors on him and he is a welcome addition to my little flock. He will be tucked away until Nov1 and will be introduced to his other team members then.

I am actually on the hunt for a ceramic owl for my Halloween decorations but no score yet. My mom and I used to always find owls and send them to my sweet Auntie Gwen who collected them. It is fun to have something to look for and then find something to surprise you.....again - low maintenance - no Nordstom personal shopper for this girl!

Anyway....what fun I can have for a quick lunch hour and $10.00 - do you thrift for anything?