Renovated!

OKAY! Drumroll needed here, I have posted above the garage before and after pics, so just a few words on Wordless Wednesday......

Fresh Start.....

Since the fire life has been a little unsettled. Well the garage is finished now, new carpet in our house, electrical done.... we thought maybe it was time for a little vacation. So the two younger kids, my husband and I went to Playa Escondida in Sayulita, Mexico. It was a tech free vacation, no phones, no cell service, very spotty internet, and no television. The surroundings were beautiful, the food delicious, alcohol plentiful and the sea breeze intoxicating. The kids (including my husband) played in the surf while I relaxed and unwound. I had my first ever hot stone massage and it was well worth it.......

I also splurged and read a book. I used to read a lot, now I'm a movie fanatic, takes less time but has somewhat the same payoff. But in tech free Playa Escondida there were numerous books left by others and no televisions so I read Stephanie Meyer's New Moon. I reviewed the movie Twilight and became a fan. The book New Moon did not disappoint. Still a total feminine, romantic fantasy...... Where else can you get someone who is gorgeous, loves your flawed self, saves you at every turn, is wealthy, etc etc.....It is what every girl dreams of unconditional acceptance and protection. And so I'm back at home now, All that is left is to clean up my poor neglected work room, I will admit though I went on amazon and ordered the third Twilight installment tonight, Eclipse. I'll let you know.....

Monday Movie Review - Shutter Island

As I'm sitting here puzzling over my insurance claim I have decided to take a break and write a Monday Movie Review.

We saw Shutter Island over the weekend and had the pleasure of it being one of those movies that isn't quite what it appears at first glance. I was expecting a scary thriller, but what I got was more of a psychological mystery, and well there were a couple of scary bits. Set in the 1950's the location is very interesting, clothing and sets very fun to look at. I can't tell too much or I may give away the plot line, but on the surface it is about the disappearance of a patient/prisoner in a high security prison for the mentally disturbed. Like The Others, and Sixth Sense there is quite a little twist (not ghostly though) about who is whom that doesn't come out until very near the end, and well if you miss the last line of the movie, you miss what made it satisfying to me. It is one of those movies though that not everyone will get, you do have to think and well a lot of people I heard go "now what happened?" (including my husband).

Anyway if you like mystery suspense type movies or are a particular fan of Leonardo de Caprio, go see it, I highly recommend it, but don't miss the last line!

Tile pendant of Sigmund Freud from Kristen Stein's etsy shop, Click the Photo to go to her shop.

Where Did All the Manners Go?

Just a bone to pick.....Went to Kroger this morning, like I usually do on Saturday morning, pick up a paper, maybe a couple of breakfasty type things. I really don't feel the need to get dressed up for this event. I'm usually in my pajamas, glasses on (I am optically challenged). This morning I only needed a newspaper and after checking at the convenience store (where the clerk would have happily allowed me to purchase Thursday's 2 day old paper) I went into Kroger and to the Starbucks stand. You can quickly purchase a paper there without standing in any lines and the paper stand is right next to it. I grabbed my paper and went to the register to pay the barrista. A gentleman old enough to behave better said the following "HEY, I haven't paid yet".

Well, there was no line, I had only a paper and he had multiple skinny, no foam, extra shot whatevers... I really didn't have a problem waiting for him to check out, I had a problem with the way he did it. I know his momma raised him better! Maybe he was just in a hurry, so today I will make sure that I take extra time to be polite, and point out to the kids the opportunities to do so too. Above are a couple of etsy items that fit my politeness theme I think, Click on the pictures to go to HarvestMoonByHands etsy shop and BeanForests shop (coincidentally great prices on these items too). Have a great Day!

Obsessed with Envelopes

I've always admired people who craft with paper. It's so precise, dealing with color and shape...Well and there is something magical about an envelope, the mystery of what may or may not be inside, like a gift waiting to be opened. I've become a bit obsessed with them, and there are so many great envelope crafters on etsy. Above are two of my faves, bottom DawnCorrespondence, and top Adnagam. Click on the pics to go to their shops.

I went off in search of my own way to create envelopes. I googled etc. and came up with a great little origami pattern for envelopes. I tried some different sizes and papers, upcycled children's primer pages etc. Here are my results to the left. Want to make some yourself? Here is the link, Origami, I had to play with it before I got the hang of it but, it was pretty fun and now I have something to use for order thank yous! Have fun, have a great week, Jamie.

Boredom Sets In

okay, I'm at my hubby's office filling in for the receptionist (she has Friday's off and well today there are meetings so no receptionist is a no-no) and well for lack of anything constructive to busy my hands with I'm pretty bored. So I thought I would post a few of my favorite links that have the word pretty in them.

http://www.oneprettything.com/ contests, DIY, links to posts for etsy sellers, very informative!

http://www.freeprettythingsforyou.com/ Currently has a tapeswell giveaway for followers, cool stuff!

http://www.allprettylittlethings.blogspot.com/ Great fashion inspiration and nice looks at accessories

http://www.prettylilthings.etsy.com/ Sweet etsy shop with some very nice things! Her ship in a bottle is pictured above.

Well signing out for now, Have a great weekend!

Going to the Post Office? Fight Breast Cancer

I got a forwarded e-mail today with a really heartwarming breast cancer survivor story about an elementary principal, some of you may have seen it. I tried to use the blogger function to import it here, but it didn't work : ( Anyway at the end of it there was an informative bit about a new .55 cent stamp the extra 11 cents go towards the fight against breast cancer. It is called the Fund the Cure stamp and was designed by Elizabeth Kessler. The goal is to raise 35 million by selling books of these stamps.

I know that a lot of us go the post office frequently and use a lot of postage. The extra 11 cents per stamp isn't a lot and I know most of us have been touched by cancer, if not specifically breast cancer, in some way. Both my grandmother and my great aunt that I blogged about died of cancer. So take a little extra time and buy some stamps, spread the word too. Thanks.