Springtime in Paris

A monogrammed shopping bag, monogrammed towel, papers, ribbons, buttons, a French-inspired box filled with fabulous chocolates, oh my!! My Springtime in Paris swap partner, Michele from Calico Daisy , sent me this wonderful package. I have already taken that incredibly cute bag on a couple of shopping trips with me. The colors theme of this swap was blues, blacks and whites and isn't that bag just fantastic in those colors? I love it! You can get your own over at Michele's site along with a set of those lucious towels. Great package Michele. Thank you!!


This is the package that I sent to Michele. I had a hoot finding Paris items in the right color theme and putting this one together.

I had a great time making the Paris luggage tags. They worked out wonderfully ~ The morning that Michele opened her package she was actually just leaving for a trip to D.C., so she added the Paris tag to her laptop case and went on her merry way. I'm so glad that she got use out of them right away ~
Another fantastic swap hosted by the Goodness girls at Sweet Goodness Swaps!

A Bunch of Sickies...

At our house lately we have been fighting RSV, stomach flu, ear infections, sinus infections and bronchitis. Each of the six inhabitants of our dwelling have been to the Doctors office at least once in the last couple of weeks and a few of us have been much more than that. Soaking with some mineral salt and a good book in a hot bath is in order. I think some warm healing sunshine might help work a little magic as well. If you see that golden orb in the sky, please ask it to stop by the Pacific Northwest for a little visit. Thanks a bunch!

To see what I've been reading, take a look over here.

The Colors of Spring...

in my yard.

Anja's Thrifting Challenge

I joined Anja from My New Classic Home for the Thrifting Challenge that she is hosting this week. Yard sales and thrift shops are some of my favorite places to shop. Oh the treasures you find...


Because I have a daycare, I'm always on the lookout for thrifted toys to add to the play closet. We live just a few blocks away from our local Coast Gaurd housing, so I tend to cruise through there many weekends. There is a lot of young families in housing and I can always be assured of some great toys at their sales. I bought this whole lot of fun playthings this weekend for $4.50! Whenever I add a new toy to the closet, all the kids immediately see it when they arrive for their day. It's really funny how they all zone in on the new things.


I have a love for pie-plates and found this huge one at a yard sale in Portland. We just happened to be driving by, not on the look-out for yard sales but saw this one in a really cute neighborhood so had to stop. So glad I did! The old red-handled kitchen gizmo's came from an estate sale here in Astoria. One of those sales where you have the run of the entire house from top to bottom and anything you find is for sale. It's kind of a strange feeeling digging through someone's life. I hope someday someone will like my treasures.

Happy Thrifing to you....

Get Off the Fence

(originally uploaded here on flickr)

Have you ever gotten some advice that has stuck with you for a long time? Quite a few years back now, I was a single mom raising my three kids and working two full time jobs to make ends meet. I was busy, busy, busy and trying to be a good mom at the same time. I was an escrow officer by day and a waitress/bartender in a fun steakhouse by night. The kids soccer games, trying to keep up on the housework and working Friday and Saturday nights took up the weekends. I did not date, was not interested in doing so for several years. My boss and good friend who is a college rodeo coach and PRCA Dodge spokesperson gave me some advice that I have never forgotten. And not because I listened to him, but just because it was so humorous. He was telling me that I needed to take some time for myself and that I needed to start dating again, but being an old cowboy (if he was reading this, he would take offense to my use of the word old. Sorry, Del, you know what I mean!), and his advise to me was:
"It's time to get off the fence and back in the chute." Hysterical ~ it still cracks me up!
Have you ever been given some advise or such that kicks around in your head because it's just so funny? What was it?

Tour of Duty

We just got word yesterday that our son, Ryan, who is stationed in Germany with the Army, is deploying this weekend for his second tour in Iraq. Please say a prayer for Ryan's safety and for his sweet wife and baby son...

A Giveaway

My friend Jodi over at This Handmade Life is giving a set of her beautiful spring notecards away on her blog. I have a set and let me tell you how absolutely gorgeous they are! Jodi does wonderful work with her photographs and crafts. She makes incredibly cute bags as well. Stop by her site for a visit, leave her a comment on her giveaway post and be entered in the drawing. If you post a link to Jodi's site, she will give you 5 extra entries as well! So say hi, meet her darling little son, Isaac, and spend a few minutes in Maine getting to know Jodi and her family. You will be glad you did...