Sorry Charlie!

Here I go again.  Another Charming Charlie moment.  I'm not sure if this is really a dress, a top, or both. Today I decided to make it a top by adding a little knot at the hemline.  This is my favorite time of day.  I just walked in the door from a fabulous day at work, ( I really love my job), uncorked a bottle of wine, and went outside to smell all the fabulous flowers that are blooming in my back yard.

This Wisteria is actually on my neighbor's side of the fence, but I get to reap the benefits of the beautiful, fragrant blooms. Can you see the little patches of crochet on the bodice of the top?

These Capris are from Wal-Mart.  I've had them forever, but they were perfect with this top.  I'm glad I've kept them.  One of the hardest things for me is to clean out a closet.  I end up putting everything back that I thought I might want to donate.

My new favorite summer shoes are called 'YellowBox'.  I'm sure you've seen them somewhere.  I got these at First Monday.  They are so comfortable.  It's like walking on foam.  You can't miss them,,,they come in a YELLOW BOX.  :)

No outfit is complete without matching jewelry.  Another Charming Charlie bling. My fabulous boss gave me a gift certificate and so this weekend I will be headed back there to see what's new.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

This is another top/dress I got at my favorite retail shop.  It's hard to decide what to wear these days with the cool mornings and the warmer afternoons.  I opted for this brown baby-doll top with puffed sleeves and Victorian collar. It's a light weight cotton but warm enough to wear for the cooler morning temp. When the weather gets warmer, I'll probably wear this with just leggings or perhaps just sandals. It's pretty versatile.

 



Paired with a pair of vintage thrift store Levi 501 jeans, I was perfectly comfortable all day.

I love any kind of cross necklace and I always seem to gravitate toward them to add to my collection.  This one is so pretty with all the colored beads. I wear it with a lot of my wardrobe. 

When I get a chance, I'll stack up all my crosses and take a group shot of them.  I'm always on the look out for them so if you find them, point me in the direction.  Send me an email if you find some.

A Rose in Bloom

On Sunday the weather was so perfect, I had to be outside with all the flowers that are blooming right now.  Check out the roses in my back yard.  Believe me, I do NOT have a green thumb, but for some reason everything seems to be holding their own.

I got this dress at my favorite non-thrift store Charming Charlies. I can't tell you how fun it is to shop at this store. 

These azaleas were transplanted from another house and they just love it tucked in this little corner.  I wish they bloomed all year long.  They are such beautiful shrubs.

 

 

Here's a close up of the bracelet and the necklace.  When you go to Charming Charlies, everything is color coded and sectioned off so you don't have to search for coordinating accessories.  It's all together in each colored section. I get a little carried away putting things in my little basket.

I went a little crazy this past weekend and got several cute outfits for my summer wardrobe.  I'll share them with you when I get my camera back.  Every day I get an email from the Geek Squad giving me an update on the repair of my camera.  I have to admit, my little Sony Cybershot is  a pretty good substitute. 

Red Boots and Yellow Daffodils

Spring has sprung in full bloom.  I love daffodils, but sadly they only bloom for a couple of weeks out of the year.  I guess that's so we'll appreciate them more.

 

I found these boots and top at a Goodwill store recently. 

I never wear western boots, but these reached out and grabbed me and they are so comfortable.  For only $6 dollars, I figured it was a low risk investment in case I didn't like them. They're in perfect condition and nicely 'broken in'.  I love them.

I love the colors in this top.  It's very 70's with the paisley pattern and shirred waistline.  Of course, a bargain find at Goodwill for only $2.99.  

I'm really missing my Nikon, and I can't find the battery charger for my little pocket camera.  I'm counting the days and checking the status of the repair daily online.  Hopefully I'll have my camera back in a couple of weeks.  Until then, my IPhone is my backup.

Have a great weekend!

My camera is in the Nikon Hospital

I'm totally lost without my camera.  I had to send it off to get the flash fixed because it wouldn't stay snapped down, so it's been shipped off North somewhere for a little R & R.  Therefore, I've had to rely on my trusty little IPhone for photos.

My favorite retail shop in the area is a charming little place called 'Charming Charlies.  They have everything you could think of and it's all color coordinated for you.  Belts, shoes, tops, necklaces, bracelets, hair thingies, purses,,,,you name it.  You actually have to walk around the store once to get the 'lay of the land' because it's a little overwhelming at first.  I love it.  I found this sun dress there last summer and all the accessories as well.

 
A little grainy, I know, but what can I say?  I MISS MY NIKON!!!

Here's a close up of the neckace.  It is multi-shades of orange and very, very noisy to wear.  It clanks and clatters like crazy.

I got this bracelet at  Charming Charlies.  It was in the all-white section of the store. 

 If you find a store in your area, you really must check it out.  The items are very inexpensive and very cute.  Your head will spin as you walk in the door, because you won't be able to decide which way to head first.

Rainy weekend

It's rainy, rainy day today

 but a nice evening to watch back to back episodes of Twighlight Zone,

... or maybe even  a Doris Day movie.  My favorite is 'Send Me No Flowers'. 

 

I've watched this movie a million times and I never get tired of it. I love all the movies with Doris Day/Rock Hudson/Tony Randall.  They are hilarious!

 

 

 

 

Another 'Ladyfingers' project

 
A couple of weekends ago, I got a wild hair and decided to completely re-decorate the master bathroom.  When we purchased the home, it had really ugly pink/blue striped floral wallpaper.  I ripped it off before we even closed on the house, and then re-papered it myself with a brown colored plain wallpaper.  I had to do something to cover the bare wall.  Well,  I've lived with it for 5 years now and decided I was 'over it'. 

Evidently I must have used a REALLY good wallpaper paste, because this paper would not budge when i tried to remove it.  So,,,on the advise of a friend,,,I painted over it with an oil-based KILZ to seal it.

   

Next, I textured the walls with the wall texturizing stuff from Home Depot that's in the blue/white box.  There's also a green/white box, but it is really thick.  The sales person said to use the blue/white box.  They call it 'Mud-Lite'.  (hee). I mixed it with a little water, and then  I used an 8" trowel and just applied it to the wall using a 'rainbow' random pattern.  The next day after it was completely dry, I painted it.

Here are a couple of photos of the finished product.

Here's a 'before' photo of the vanity chair.  I had some animal print fabric on hand so I recovered the chair to match the new decor.

 
This was a very easy re-do.  I just took the seat off the chair, and stapled the new fabric over the old, then re-installed the cushion.  Pretty quick, easy project.

 To finish out the look, I found me some animal print towels, and took them to a local store and had them monogrammed. 

This was a super fun project.  It only took a couple of days for the whole process and I love the final results.  The room is so much brighter now.

Have a great weekend!

 
 

Black Magic

This is one of the last jacket purchases I made at Goodwill.  For now at least.  This was a perfect weight for the cooler Spring mornings and evenings.  Not too heavy but not too light.  I love the shiny black vinyl, the huge buttons, and the cropped shape of it and because it was the end of the season, it was on the clearance rack.  I snagged it for $5  I've worn it several times now but with the warmer weather, it's time to pack it away for the season. 

I love this jacket, but I'm truly ready for the warmer weather that's coming. I plan to spend this next weekend packing up my winter stuff and digging out my Spring/ Summer stuff.  I have lots and lots of skirts I can't wait to wear.
 

Southern Comfort

When was the last time you made Blackberry Cobbler?? I was inspired to make my own version after having the 'store-bought' kind at First Monday a couple of weeks ago.  I bought these beautiful, HUGE blackerries at a farmer's market a few days ago.



I found a fabulous recipe in one of my favorite Southern Living cookbooks.  It only took about 10 minutes to throw it together.  Look how pretty it turned out.



I 'just happened to have' a pint of Haagen-Dazs Vanilla ice cream stashed away in my freezer.  I knew I was saving it for something really special.

I even got out one of my special cut glass bowls to dish it out in.



Fearing I would eat the whole thing by myself, I scooped out over 1/2 of the dessert, put it in a plastic bowl, and immediately took it over to my next door neighbor.  Outa-sight-outa mind! 

I did treat myself to a generous helping for myself though.  Wow,,,it is so good!

(I promise extra time on my treadmill after this!!)

If you are so inclined to indulge yourself, I'm including the recipe.  GO NUTS!

Blackberry Cobbler

1 1/3 cups sugar

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup butter melted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups fresh blackberries, mashed

½ of (15 ounce) package refrigerated piecrust

1 Tablespoon sugar

Vanilla ice cream (optional)

·    Stir together first 4 ingredients in large bowl

·    Gently stir in blackberries

·    Spoon fruit mixture in to lightly greased 11 x 7 baking dish

·    Cut pie crust in to ½ inch wide strips. Arrange diagonally over blackberry mixture.  Sprinkle top with 1 Tablespoon sugar

·    Bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and center is bubbly.  Serve with ice cream

·    Yield 6-8 servings

Have a great week!

 

A few weeks ago, I happened upon an estate sale in the Highland Park area of Dallas.  The home was absolutely gorgeous, and in the entry hallway was a very large portrait of a beautiful woman in ice skater apparel striking a pose on ice.  As I moved in to the family room, there was a video playing depicting the life of an Olympic Speed Racing Skater and a pair of ice skates on display. 

It turns out I was in the home of Dorothy Franey Langkop who was an Olympic medalist in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics.  What a thrill to see her beautiful belongings on display.  I didn't have much time to linger or to ask a lot of questions, but to my knowlege, the proceeds from the estate were going to an Olympic charity. I did my own research and found a couple of photos on the internet of Ms Franey. Here she is, probably in the 1930's practicing her speed skating.

I found another photo of her online of her taken just a couple of months ago.  I believe she is in her 90's now. In the 50's she also took up figure-skating and skated at the beautiful Adolphus Hotel in Dallas.  I found this bit of info on the internet as well:

  'In 1932 Dorothy Franey won the Bronze Medal in Women’s Speed Skating. After winning the Bronze, she trained and became a figure skater. During the 40’s and 50’s she ran and performed in elaborate ice skating shows held 3 times daily at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas. She eventually added ice shows in Mexico, Jamaica, and South America. Dorothy Franey Langkop was an avid and talented golfer as well.'

 

 

Wouldn't you love to sit and hear her stories?

I was so lucky to be able to purchase this beautiful rose necklace that belonged to Ms Franey.  It is such a beautiful, special piece of jewelry, and I'd love to find out where she lives now to show her that what was once hers is being worn and loved by me, and I will share her story to anyone who asks. 

 

 

Road Trip Finale (Country Road,,Take Me Home)

I took all the back roads I could find on the way back to the city from East Texas.  I rolled the windows down to take in all the fresh country air and and stopped and took as many pictures as I could.  Everything is so green and beautiful this time of the year, and new life is everywhere.  Sit back and enjoy...

Saw this huge field of yellow flowers and though the sign said 'restricted' 'no trespassing', I tossed my tri-pod over the fence and climbed over and snapped a few shots of this glorious pasture.

I think this mama cow had just dropped her calf within the last few hours.  I wanted a good photo of the baby, so I tossed a stick at the mama to make her get up.  She nudged her baby until he finally stood up.  From the way he was wobbling, I think this was his first time to stand.  I felt horrible for disturbing the timing of nature, but boy didn't I get a darling photo?? 

Beautiful, Beautiful Bluebonnets.  They bloomed overnight it seems.

 
 

The Dinner Bell Restaurant in Van.  I hear they have the 'best chicken-fried steak around'.

I didn't catch this guy's name, but he and his wife own the candle shop in downtown Van.  He kept an eye out on my car while I ran across the street to take a photograph of the restaurant.  Folks are so nice in small towns.  There's no such thing as a 'stranger' to them.

An oil derrick right next to the road.  These are all over Van, TX.  Lots of folks have them right in their back yards.

I love old country churches.  This one has an historical marker next to it.  I had to get out and look.

 

Check out this 'local color'

These guys were so happy to see me.  I wish I had brought some carrots or apples with me to share with them.  As soon as I got out of the car and approached the fence, they all came sauntering over to me.

Wisteria gone wild

One more baby cow.  I couldn't resist his sweet face.  He never took his eyes off me.

On the road again, headed back to the city.  (Sigh)

Have a great week!