A Passion for Sea Glass, A Homemade Life And Other Great Products To Share.....

My Dear Friends......I have been thinking of you!
I won't get to all I want to share ~ it's almost dinner time ~ but let me at least share a few books
and products that have made my life awfully nice lately.
A Passion For Sea Glass
The book " A Passion For Sea Glass" was given to me from Mom a few weeks ago.
Oh WOW ~ do I love this book. There are SO many great projects to try ~

......this is one of them. Sea glass wind chimes ~ mm mm ~ I wonder what they sound like?
This made me really want to organize my sea glass better.
I have some in glass jars in my windows but the rest is hidden away in plastic buckets.
The author speaks about sea glass history, wearable art, locations, projects and sea glass artists.
(by the way "sea" the large shells pictured with the book? I found those at Milford Beach here in Ct.)



"A Homemade Life" by Molly Wizenberg

I am reading this book as we speak.
'A Homemade Life" is written in a delightful way ~much like "The Sweet Life in Paris."
Each chapter is a story with a recipe at the end relating to the story.
You stroll with the author through her childhood memories, loosing her Dad, and finding the love of her life
and how food helped her on her journeys in a delightful way.
This is the kind of book you can step away from for a week or so and pick up where you left off ~ no problem.
I have turned down the corner of every page that holds a recipe I must try ~ almost every one!
Visit Molly's well loved blog at http://www.orangette.blogspot.com/

"The LightWedge Book Light"

I like to read before I go to bed ~ Frank likes the lights OUT!
I have tryed all those cheesy book lights ~ they last about a week if it's my lucky week.
I toyed with the idea of a Hannah Montana book light that was 90% off at Borders ~ he he
and then I saw this.
"The Light Wedge" at Borders. It was $10.00 at 75% off. It comes with a nifty case that I never use.
You hold it right over the page you are reading and can see perfectly!
It is a little awkward to hold at first but you get used to it.
I have had it for a month now ~ use it every night ~ and it's still burnin' bright!

"ChiroFlow Waterbase Pillow"

Franks chiropractor recommended this pillow for him to help his back pain at night.
You fill the base with water ~ it's really like a water bed for your head!
The top however ~ is fluffy like a regular pillow.
He has been using this for over 2 months now and no more back pain in the morning!
It was $44.00 from his Doctor but I bet if you shop on line ~ you may be able to find it cheaper.

Celsius Energy Drink

The self proclaimed Red Bull addict has officially changed energy drinks!
Hello CELSIUS! I LOVE this stuff!
You get double the drink, it taste a whole heck of a lot better ~
it is actually GOOD and doesnt have any nasty chemicals in it.
I buy it by the case from Amazon and NEVER exceed one per day.
This is my coffee replacement since coffee has lots of carbs and add's to my pre ~ menopausal waistline.
If I do have coffee ~ I will skip this for the day.
Organic Smooth Move Tea

Okay now we are all buddies so I am going to share this last one with you.
We don't use any over the counter medicine in our home.
If it can't be cured with something natural ~ I live with it.
My daughter happen to be drinking a cup of this tea the other day and I tryed it.
It was so YUMMY! It had a sweetness to it that made it feel like maybe I was eating a
big chocolate brownie if I closed my eyes.
(okay ~ I'm exaggerating but you know what I mean)
So the other day ~ it was rainy and cold for July. I thought hhmmm~ I think
I'll make a pot of that yummy tea while I'm working on the computer.
I made it extra strong ~ 2 teabags in a tiny tea pot.
I let it steep and slowly enjoyed my treat. I had a fleeting thought later in the day about the purpose of that particular tea but ~ I was fine so forgot about it.
That was until my 2AM wake up call ~ when my stomach let out a gurgle so load it woke the neighbors ~
let's just say mission accomplished.
When it seemed safe to returned to bed 20 minutes later ~ still sweaty and now weak ,
I took a sip of water and immediately high tailed it (he he) back to the throne for another round.
Moral of the story ~ this stuff works! Treat it with respect ~ 1 teabag only when needed.
As yummy as it is ~ it is medicinal ~ not a treat ;)

New Toys At Micky McD's

And since I was all cleaned out ~
I will admit that YES ~ I DID buy AND eat a Cheeseburger Happy Meal just so I could have the Teeny Beany Baby Toy!

Sometimes ....All It Takes Is A Wish

Don't you love when you follow your intuitions head on and the results are so lovely and so much better than you could have ever planned!
Thursday I had just HAD it with the cluttered feeling in my sewing room. I started taking everything off of every surface and moving furniture all around.
I got it arranged in a pleasing way but as a result ~ had to get rid of a dresser that I had used for alot of my storage.
Fri morning ~ I had piles of stuff that I couldn't get rid of but had no where to put.
Suddenly I got this urge to go get 2 cent stamps ~ I know how silly that sounds but it true!
As I headed to the post office ~ this beautiful Victorian house I passed was having an estate sale.
I haven't shopped in FOREVER and with $11.00 in my pocket ~ I skidded to a stop and went in.
My knees started shaking as I tryed to pretend I wasn't impressed ~ he he he he!
Just look at all my treasures ~
Hankies, potholders, tiny tea sets ~ some marked GERMANY ~

This woman was a doll collector ~ I mean I could have gone CRAZY but after all was on a budget

This was my favorite ~ tiny teacups with parrot handles ~

Beautiful tatted doily's and hankies ~

These potholders are just a darn piece of heaven if you ask me ~

Vintage books ~

NOW for the real prize! As I looked at the books I noticed the book shelves were on sale for $20.00 each.

Well ~ hm mm ~ I have the check my sweet Mom sent me for Mothers Day ~ Excuse me Mame ~

would you take $35.00 for the pair?

YES YES YES she said and here they are ~

JUST what I needed for my sewing room!!!!

They are well over 50 years old. All I did was clean them good. I love the color and worn patina!!!

And when Frank went to pick them up ~

they had found one more in the basement and gave to us for free!

I haven't fused over the arrangement inside the shelf yet but it looks perfect in my dining room!

I had an empty corner that needed filling badly!!!

I feel SO blessed!!! It started with a wish and 24 hours later ~

done!

Now I just have to find some empty wall space for my thread and I'll be back in business!

By the way ~ I never did buy those stamps :)

Intercourse Village, Pa.

One night at the Inn ~ The Inn at Intercourse Village, Pa. (part of The Kitchen Kettle Village) that is.
This was a one night get away we planned in Feb. for my 50th and weren't sure we would be taking ~
given the current situation.
Having not been away with Frank since 2001 ~ we didn't want to give up!
We cashed in all our change , iky gold that was laying around my jewelry box for 20 yrs and guess what???
We had over $400.00 for our trip!

So here it is ~ my beloved Room 905 at The Inn.
This is my third stay here and this room feels like my own!

This was on the table when we entered the room ~ along with 2 stainless steel travel mugs for free refills in the Village, a bag of their yummy crackers, sample jams and chocolate and a coupon for ..........

this free breakfast for Frank and I!

All for $99.00!!!

After breakfast we went to Central Market in downtown Lancaster.

Tons of jams and jelly's from Amish farmers ..........

Flowers galore!

The smell of spring FILLS the air!

local chips ~mmmmm

Here are some of the bargains we picked up ~ they were almost giving this stuff away!

I really felt God's blessing on us because these items here are the kinds of things I love and treasure the most

and we found them all in one day.

This is hand dyed silk ribbon ($1.00 a yard!) and embroidery floss from The Quilt Museum in Lancaster.

I have to be honest ~ the museum gets a thumbs down from me.Very little content.

However ~ the free one in Intercourse ~ just across the street form our Inn gets THUMBS UP!!!!

Every time I go to Amish Country ~ I find a vintage pot holder that I like to bring home and duplicate.

I was working on the one I found this week-end last night while I was watching a preacher on TV I really love.

I was groovin' on what he was saying ~ not really paying attention to my sewing.

When I brought it down to show Frank ~ I realized (besides forgetting to give the poor girl an eye brow) ~

I made her lips look like the blow up dolls you see all over 42ND Street in NYC!!!

I was rolling in tears ~ I cracked myself up!

Needless to say ~ this one will not go on Etsy!

Good Buy's From Target, Walmart, Homegoods ~ Get Um While Their HOT!!!

Target has a brand new line of rugs!
They will brighten any room with a SPLASH of springtime!
I LOVE everything about this product ~ the least of which it arrives at your door for $60.00 total.

Folks ~Always remember when you are ordering on line check for FREE coupons on line.
I almost always find something or at least free shipping!
For so long I have needed to organize my jewelery! This HUGE bargain was just $ 37.00 ~ 75% off!!!
Not bad when you have a $40.00 gift card!!!
The quality is wonderful and the drawers are divided and lined with velvet.

I need some of that special stuff to get the "sticky" off the mirror ~ sorry : )


My 26 year old blender finally bite the dust. I only needed one to grind my flax seed and fruit for my morning shakes.
I found this at Walmart for under $50.00.
It has one toggle switch that is PERFECT for my needs.
This little guy is a work horse and seems built to last.




Recipe ~My Mom's Morning Shake



3 Tablespoons Hemp Protein Powder
3 Tablespoon Flax seed (put this is blender first and grind it up. Do not buy the kind already ground)
about 2 cups ORGANIC fruit ~ I add fresh banana, pineapple, and a handful of frozen berries
1 Tablespoon Green powder
about 3/4 cup water

Blend and drink with your vitamins.

I make one 5 or 6 mornings a week for my daughter and myself ~
YUMMY!!!


SimpleHuman garbage can ~ otherwise known as " Jake Proof "
Jake is getting weird! He will consume everything in the garbage and this week
started eating the Handi Wipes I use as dish rags!
He Cannot get into this!
You can now find these at HomeGoods for a much better price than on-line.
http://www.simplehuman.com/

It opens with a foot peddle and glides nicely shut without touching it at all.
No silly ~ I don't always have my garbage covered with doily's.
I just did it for you to spare you the sight of our garbage.

Guy Wolfe Pottery

Are you familiar with Guy Wolfe Pottery?
Martha Stewart seems to be the one to have discovered him many years ago in his Litchfield
County, Ct studio. When mom came to visit one year ~ we took a drive to his studio to see what all the fuss was about.
There he was ~ creating a piece as we watched in amazement.
He was friendly and transparent but had that edginess to him many artist possess mid -creation. As we I tried to drink in every morsel of his studio ~ there on his bench was a large order from her Her Honor Herself ~ Martha!
He later told us he had a huge order to fill from her as well as his thoughts on selling the rights to his name. He had so many orders from all over the world ~ he was struggling to keep up. (It appears many years later ~ he has indead sold the rights to his name and the new stuff you find is not made by his creative hands ~ sigh.)
He followed us out as we carried our BOXES of purchases to the car. As I turned to take one more look before we drove away ~ I watched him jump on an old wooden swing hanging in the front of his studio and start to swing as high as he could! I bet he was trying to touch the sky with his feet!
I've wanted my own swing ever since!



This is the real deal ~ a piece my Mom bought for me from Guy's studio many years ago.


This is the reproduction stuff your likely to find today.

Hurry to Your Nearest William Sonoma!

Look at all the treasure's you can get at William Sonoma for up to 75% off! Thick kitchen towels, choclate shaver, chicken parts cutter (i'm quite sure that's not the official name!) and thick handmade marshmallows.....mmmmm good. They happen to melt ever so slowly in your hot choclate ~ lasting till the very last drop. The coffee maker I purchased for my husband in the fall but it is the best one we have ever had and it is now just $44.00 on sale ~ an amazing price. http://www.williams-sonoma.com

I'm feeling a bit of "naughty" coming on .............

April ~ MUST you torture me so??? I need to be a very good girl now. It's after Christmas, tax time, home repairs must be done ~ pleazzzzzzze ~ no more CUTE to DIE FOR handbags for a while ~ http://www.aprilcornell.com/ ~ K ????