Topgraphy...it's an illness

I'm writing you today from my deathbed.

At least I feel like I'm dying.

I know that I should be resting and pushing lots of fluids but, you see, I suffer from a greater illness.

One that goes way beyond my 102.5 fever with very sore throat and stuffy nose.

My love for topography. I hope I spelled that right. If not, blame the drugs. I have had this love affair with topography for as long as I could remember. Long before Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs made it popular. My father had a wooden print block that sat on his bookshelf in his apartment. I loved the way it looked sitting there all by itself. It just spoke to me.

So began my lifelong love.

While others consider it the newest trend, I consider it art.

I thought that I would take a moment and show you some of the topography ...err art that resides in my home.

P.S. Sorry for the pics. It's hard to take good shots when you're hopped up on NyQuil.

This is a basket that sits at my hearth in the living room. I found the number at GW and simply bolted it to the basket that holds some extra letters that I own.

This is the wall above my couch. I found the letters on the side of the road in a ditch on an old taco restaurant sign. My husband said they had been there for years so I didn't feel bad about taking them. Mr. M had to pry them off with a crowbar.

(Forgive the really sad sheetrock job. It was like that when we bought the house and is on the list of re-do's.)

This is another view of the wall. I have a few more smaller numbers that I need to place on the wall directly above the couch.

I do have a question for you all in blog land.

Do you see that little wall with the vent?

I'm debating if I should place topography there as well or leave it be?

I'll go with the highest vote.

Thanks ladies for your input.

Sorry this post is short.

I feel the need to go and drink some more Theraflu. (sniff....sniff)

She's Mine...ALL Mine!!!!

I needed to go back home to take care of some business for my son, and I figured, "I'm here so I might as well stop in at the Goodwill."
Okay, so the Goodwill is another thirty minute drive, but it is always well worth it!
This particular GW is right next to an affluent neighborhood and they have the best stuff hands down.
Today was no exception to the rule.
I used to go everyday on my way to work just to look around, so I've become pretty buddy buddy with the ladies who work there.
The assistant manager comes running over to me and says, " You got here just in time. This boutique down the street closed up and they donated a WHOLE bunch of stuff that I know you will like."

I tried to be passé.
I said, "Okay, show me what ya'll got in.

And she brought out...brace yourselves..........

This dynamic lady right here!!!!!

I think I shall call her Sophie.

I had to literally stop myself from running up to her and her four (you read correctly) other sisters who were in various colors. (I'm getting all short of breath and clammy hands just thinking about it.)

I looked at Sophie's tag....59.99.

I put on my sweetest face with really big smile and said, "You know, I've been coming to you guys for a long time and I just drove two hours to come see ya'll because I know ya'll have the best stuff...can you cut me a deal?

The assistant manager looked long and hard into the ceiling while I was about to burst with excitement. She looked at me with this huge grin and said...45 dollars!

WOOOOT HOOOOOOT (palms facing up while I'm raising the roof.)

So here she is. A picture of beauty with all of her beautiful pearls and lots of bling.

She's kinda on the chesty side but she carries it REALLY well.

Look at those legs!!! They could give Tina Turner a run for her money!

Did I mention that she can adjust her own height?

So now Sophie stands in my office, greeting all of those who come in through the back door as she lovingly gazes at my computer.

I know that she has my back!!!!

People, a little conformity please...

"Conformity is the process by which an individual's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are influenced by other people. This influence occurs in both small groups and society as a whole, and it may be the result of subtle unconscious influences, or direct and overt social pressure. " From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is the front of my house. It's a very quaint house with it's tin roof and matching shutters. The house is very true to its humble 1951 beginnings.

And then you notice it......

Do you see it?

That horrible aluminum screen door thingy that totally throws off the whole look.

I can appreciate a girl standing out in society, since I just happen to be one of those girls but this is a little extreme so she had to go.

There. Much better.

I went searching for a new screen door (on the cheap, of course).

I found this poor lady sitting by herself in Lowe's

(my other secret affair..I'm quite the trollop these days.)

She was apparently kicked out of her social circle by the other screen doors

(which were priced at 134.00 by the way.)

I pulled her out of her hiding spot to check her out since she was still covered in her finest plastic and all.

She was being sold for $20.00!!!!!!!

With that being said, I picked her up and brought her home.

She's really brand new with no scratches or dings or anything.

She just needed a door handle.

Mr. M was more than happy to add her to the family and now my house (and my door can conform (just a little) to society.

Sweet Escape

Gwen Stefani has NO idea how true those words are to me.

As much as being a mother and wife has its rewards beyond measure, there are those times when I like to be plain 'ol me.

You know what I'm talking about ladies.

The times when I want to have a REAL name

not just "Honey, have you seen my..."

or "Mom, Mom, Mom?"

Sometimes I simply like to be Angélique.

So I go to my sweet escape which happens to be my office.

It's not completely polished yet as I have just moved in, but it is my sanctuary.

I thought I would take a moment to share with ya'll (I am Texan you know) a few of the things that inspire me and make my escape so sweet.

Above my desk is a built in shelf that I have filled with pictures of my grandparents, my father, and great aunts and uncles.

There is a built in bookcase next to the doorway that I lined with scrapbook paper and filled with more pictures of my great grandmother and other relatives. I unified the look by placing my collection of birds with my photos.

A closeup of the bookcase. Each cubby hole has its own vignette.

This is own of my crown jewels of thrift shopping. I purchased this beauty about a year ago at a Salvation Army while visiting my sister. Just imagine it being that cheap 1970's plastic and colored to mimic cherry wood finish...ewwwwww but she had great bones and some facial features to DIE FOR. I knew that one day she would have the perfect spot waiting for her so I asked how much. The lady said fifteen dollars. KA-CHING!!!

I squeeeeeeeeeezed her in my car (as she is over three feet tall) and drove her to my grandparent's home. I stored it in their shed until I moved and now, after several coats of glossy white paint and some corkboard, she is the star of my office. I only use her for inspiration so she only holds pics of things that inspire me such as my children's artwork. (More inspiration will be posted soon, so don't fret over the few pieces that she is holding for me).

What's currently on my desk right now. A picture of my childhood home that has been in our family for five generations that I framed and displayed on a picture easel along with a piece of milkglass that holds some violets. (Fake of course, I can barely grow children... yet alone plants.) Violets are my grandmother's favorite so I always keep some around. I even have them on my foot.

This mailbox was original to the house in the above picture. My grandparents took it down when they were required to get a curbside mailbox. I found it years later in their shed just collecting dust, so I painted it with glossy white spray paint (my new BFF) and now it holds any mail or papers that I need to keep close by.

I found this little memo board while on another thrifting trip while visiting my sister at a resale shop. The lady only wanted two dollars for it. The paint as well as the backing is original. All she needed was a good scrubbing and she is ready to work. (She actually has a job now...holding pics of my family back home. )

I can't wait for my life to become completely settled in and for my office to be the gem that it is. It's not the most expensive things in life that make me happy as much as the things that make me smile. When I look back over my life many years from now, I won't remember the cost of hardly any of these things, as they are simply that...things. I will remember the memories that they hold and the faces of the people that make my escape from this life so sweet.

Happy Weekending!!!!

The fam and I are going to spend today swimming

and having a great time!

Hope you do the same!!!!

And they called it "Puppy Love"

I'll be sharing with

and

Southern Hospitality .

and

Twice Remembered

I have officially been in my new home and town for two months.
It's been really lonesome at times without my family and my friends.
There are sooo many days when I just want to call up my girlfriends and go have a margarita.

To top it all off, my oldest stayed back home with my mom because he is a senior in high school this year and didn't want to possibly lack credits for graduation and took his chihuahua (my constant companion) with him.

Needless to say, I have been a little homesick.
The divine Mr. M. saw my lonliness and decided to fix all that.

Meet ...........

Shuga.

Shuga was a dumped puppy.

She is as sweet as honey (hence the name.)

Ms. Shuga is VERRRYYY prissy and likes the finer things in life

(like my new sweater and juicy couture perfume.)

She needed somewhere to sleep (besides on my sweater.)

I went in to a doggie boutique in the adjacent town and saw this really cute bed that looked something like this.

swank pets

I fell in love...

Until I saw the $259.00 price tag.

I fell out of love.......quickly.

The other day while driving to the beach, I was curb cruising.

(It's like garage sale-ing, but freeeeee!)

I saw an old dresser that was being thrown out by its owners.

I saw the "For Sale" sign in the yard and figured these good folks were moving.

I quickly told Mr. M to pull over (while swatting at his arm and pointing.)

He looked at me like I was mad.

Mr. M: "It's a busted up dresser."

Me: "I don't want the dresser."

Mr. M. "Huh?"
Me : "I want that dresser drawer."

(Insert blank stare and crickets chirping from Mr. M)

Mr. M "If it's still there when we get back, it's all yours"

I couldn't wait to get back home.

Mr. M tried to take another route, but I quickly pointed out the way to the drawer and there she was.She was plain brown with handles but she had such charisma.

I knew that Shuga had found her bed

I painted her black and added small finials to the bottom corners.

I added two medium finials to the back of the drawer.

I know, I know. I forgot the "before" pics. I was really excited and she was really ugly.

She begged me to only catch her in her glory. What could I do? I know I don't want to be photographed for the world without makeup on.

I decided to Modpodge the inside of her bed using these tools.

I know you're thinking, "What's the spray adhesive for?"

Ladies, this stuff is awesome! Me and spray adhesive are like this (fingers crossed.)

Don't get me wrong. I luv me some Modpodge...Lord knows I do!!!

This stuff allows me to reposition my paper without it getting all wet.

I sealed it with Modpodge to give it a nice good shine and finish.

I had to use the steak knife. The six year old took the scissors hostage and is asking for a lofty ransome. I'm just keeping it real people.

I went to Hob Lob (my secret affair..don't tell Mr. M) and bought some iron on letters.

I just ironed them on to the pillow and placed it in the bed.

There you have it...Shuga's new bed.

She's in Puppy Love.

A Girl, A Boy, & A Hutch

 

Between Naps on the Porch

Southern Hospitality

and Twice Remembered

My hubby and I recently celebrated our one month anniversary!

( Insert confetti and clapping!)

To surprise me, my hubby told me about a house down the street that was being cleaned out. The owner of the house had passed away and this man had no family so his belongings were being thrown to the curb. Being the good citizen that I am, I jumped up from my chair and drove down the street. The man cleaning out the house kindly informed me that many items were going to be sold, so if I saw something I like, just ask.

I walked through the house and saw a few things that caught my eye. (More to come about that later.) As I was walking out the door, I saw something phenomenal out of the corner of my eye. I tried to compose myself as I ran across the kitchen and asked, "How much for THAT?" The man said " I guess ten bucks is alright." ALRIGHT?!?!?!? Before my husband could blink, I handed the man ten dollars and was backing in the truck. (All while doing my "spazzy dance") So, without further adieu, here she is.

Now, despite her icky green paint and the horrible smoking habit that she once had, I knew that she had potential. She's solid wood and has her original hardware. After much trial and error (and I mean LOTS of error) this fine lady was transformed. Dear hubby sanded her and applied two coats of red paint. I then decided on the candle wax distressing technique and covered her with a coat of black flat paint and rubbed the top coat off to reveal the red in the areas that were rubbed with wax.

So, I now present to the world, my first creation.

I shall call her Tabatha.

I know that this picture doesn't do her any justice as she was an AWESOME model, but she was working with a mere amateur of a photographer who doesn't do well with full body shots, but did get some good close ups.











All she needs now is a good coat of rub on polyurethane and she will have some major gleam!!

Tabatha may not be perfect, but I think she could give the Pottery Barn models a run for their money!