What Have I Been Up To?!

Good Afternoon, Friends!! I hope this finds you all well and enjoying a beautiful day wherever you may be!! Okay, so you know how I said I was off to do some painting? If you follow me on facebook you would have read that little tidbit about where I have been.  Anyhow... as it turns out, I'm not...painting, quite yet. I purchased a beautiful 4 poster bed from the Goodwill for 59.99!! 

It's perfect, don't ya think?

I was so excited about my good fortune, I could see it all done, with a shabby chic, french finish..but alas, It was a custom made size, that is either 3 inches to small or 20 inches bigger than any mattress. Don't know what they used in it, but it had to go back. New bed is being delivered on Thursday, so I am scouring the thrift stores for a new headboard/footboard/siderail set for it. Whewwww!!   Wish me luck!

Here's something to make you smile. They sure made me smile!! Beautiful old-fashioned  vintage roses from a very dear friend!! Thanks, K.G. !

I pray you are all having a lovely day and week!! I'll Be back soon to show you what the next step in this bedroom updo is!! 

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Cheers for now!!

Linked up with Brooke!!

Something We All Can Do For <$2-3!!

Hi everyone, I hope you have had a wonderful start to your week !! I wanted to share this very easy and almost free project that I just finished because I don't know anybody who doesn't have most of what it takes to do this!

A Fond Farewell!

Hello everyone!! I hope you are having a beautiful day!! This past weekend, one of our local favorites, and a five star, "not-to-be-missed!" spot in our quaint little town had to close their doors. It was a very sad loss for us.  It was a beautiful spot named Jacqueline's High Tea Room. 

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There they had a fully decked out dining room,with private seetings, where one could grab a hat at the door and sit on upholstered chairs in front of tables covered in beautiful rich linens, with fine china and serving pieces in front of you and order a "traditional high tea" or a lovely lunch.

 It has been the pamper yourself, splurge for many of us for years. My Mother and other family members and friends would often give a trip to Jacqueline's as a Birthday, Christmas or Mother's Day gift, or just a good ole Ladies day out.  Well as stated, they have closed their doors and are moving on and I know all from my town and many others wish them many Blessings on their next journey in life.

So, why am I telling you about this? Two reasons really: to honor the memories made and shared there and to share some of the wonderful bargains I was able to get at their "Closing Sale".  I am super excited to tell you that I was able to find out about this in time to make their sale in their final two days!! Which, as you know me by now, was how I got a "steal" on some absolutely beautiful items!! Always good news to be shared!!! I have shared some of my "treasures" on Shoestring's facebook page and thought, to be fair, it deserved a post all of it's own.  So here are a few of incredible finds!!

 

Now, to be honest, I already had the two plates on the bottom of this 3-tiered stand.  But, I didn't have the stand!! Nor, did I know when I bought those two Beautiful Haviland tea cups that they would be an exact match to the plate that sits now in the middle of the rack. (One I picked up at Goodwill a couple of months ago) Serendipitous, I tell you!! Yay!! Great find number one!!

I just loved the look of all my "New" treasures laid out on the table as the sun went down.  Okay, if you are familiar with my Blog, I always tell you how good of a deal I got, so that you know, you, too, can get this kind of Elegance on a Shoestring budget.  Everything you see on the table I paid a grand total of $28.00 for!!  Somehow, that makes them even more special to me..

This wonderful Thomas Kinkade commemorative cup and plate "Moonlit Cottage" was a gift to me from a friend I gave a heads-up call to, regarding this particular sale. She did not get out of there for as little as I did, But then again, she has quite a bit more than I to show for it! Thanks L!!

As I stated earlier, I wish the very Best to Jacqueline and her staff, and a big "Thank you"   for the wonderful memories and yummy treats over the years!! May God Bless you and keep you.  To everyone else, go out and make it a fabulously elegant week in your home!! Hugs and Blessings! ~Theresa  

I'm sharing with these lovely Ladies:

Beat The Winter Cold With My Roasted Butternut Squash Soup!

Welcome, all! It has been below freezing here in Northern California, which has me baking and cooking a lot.  If not for the food, for the warmth it provides in the home!  
This was actually a recipe I emailed to a dear friend, she loves it so much, as do I,  I wanted to share it with you!! 

If you are a regular to my Blog you already know I don't "do" recipes the way most people do, I explain them. Once again, I can't say this enough, the "way" you make something is as important as the ingredients you use! I hope you enjoy it!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to you all!! Thank you so much for joining me!! I pray you all have a Blessed Christmas!! Full of  Peace, Family and Love!!  ~Theresa

"For unto us a child is born... And His name shall be called Jesus, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!" Isaiah 9:6

A Little Satin or Lace: Easy Update for Your Ornaments

As I have been decorating the house and tree this year, one thing has been ever-present in my mind.  God has created such beauty for us!  We have a wonderful little thrift store in my town, whose profits go entirely to Hospice, they have some of the most beautiful things you've ever seen, every day and month of the year.  However, come the middle of November they turn there store into a Christmas Wonderland.  Having saved all their Christmas donations throughout the year, they bring them out then in full force and the store is transformed, and for very incredibly bargains!!!

It is appropriately named Sacks Thrift Avenue!

They have had so many beautiful things and for such great prices, I found myself running to the store at least 3 times a week!  And why not?  I have a lot of decorating to do, both here at my home and over at my Mom's! (Post to follow on My Mom's front porch Christmas Makeover)

 This ornament was in the original 1950's packaging, a complete box of 9 for $2. The deals just kept getting better.

One thing I have discovered about ornaments this year, is whether old mercury or dollar store finds, every single ornament looked better, and more old-world vintage hung with a piece of satin ribbon or lace!

They just look Better!  And, you cannot beat the price for this redo on your ornament.  Whether you get your ribbon at the Dollar Tree, Goodwill, or Michael's you will pay no more than $1 for anywhere from 6-10 yards of it!! 

 

Can you imagine how many ornament you can remove those little metal hooks from and redo at this price? The sky is the limit and all it takes is a little time and not much of that, either. 

 

 I had a few friends stop by while I was re-doing these ornaments with satin ribbon and they all wanted to do some, too!  We visited for about 30-45 minutes and all the ornaments I had out were transformed and half of them on the tree!!  Blessings don't really cost anything, do they?  Neither did this  incredibly fun and easy project!

I'm sharing this week @ These beautiful Blogs:

The Perfect Tree and a Good Friend

I am Blessed to have a friend who is large and strong and kind, who is happy to help when called in exchange for a couple cups of coffee and conversation.   I called him when I found “the Christmas tree,” you know the one, the one you have to have and for the right price.  Yes, believe it or not, it was in this lot that I found my 11-foot beauty for $39.99!!

Of course, my friend tried to talk me into a smaller one, as he was the one that was going to have to lift into his truck and help me get up my stairs and into its stand.

 When I first found it though I had seen the beginning of a bird’s nest inside its middle branches, and I was sure that was God's sign to me that this was my tree!! My friend did try to move the stack of sticks and twigs into a smaller tree, but I was already in love, so he gave in to the fact I wasn't going to look at any others and dutifully loaded into the back of his truck.

Thanks, D!

I know I am biased, but isn't it the most beautiful tree you've ever seen...I know, I know, you probably think you have the best tree. But you would have a difficult time convincing me of that!  Now onto the lights!! Oh, my the house smells so wonderful.

How lucky am I that this the view from my desk?

I'll be back soon!!  I have been such a busy elf, that I barely know what to share with you next!   I have more decorating to do!!  

Did you see it over there on the table? I swear my heart and eyes are full.

Many Blessings to you all!!