Sunday, May 30, 2010

I have a winner...

I'm happy to announce the winner of the
CSN LANTERN giveaway
is
ARTIE from COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES

He is a fellow NY blogger ~ and I have been blogging for over a year ¬and there aren't many NY bloggers that are sharing decorating ideas like Artie does. He lives in a beautiful craftsman-style home near Niagara Falls and has an eye for displaying his wonderful collections of home decor. You MUST visit some posts of Christmas past to see his gorgeous trees. One thing that really "jumped out " of all his posts, for me, was how he turned all of his dining room chairs outward and displayed books on the seats - so clever!!

I am happy that Artie won this Lantern from CSN because he just built a pergola in his backyard and it might have a perfect home there - but if not, I have faith that he will find the perfect way to display it. And this is also a great way to thank him for the pleasure I receive from following his blog!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

A "Bright" Bargain

I'm joining Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville to share my quick trip into the thrift shop this week, spending only $1.49 for this pair of candlesticks:
And, for safety and convenience, I only use battery-operated flickering candlesticks:
Pretty thrifty, huh?
Don't forget about my CSN Lantern GIVEAWAY - enter here - contest ends on Friday!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Carter's coming to see Nana...


Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen!
He'll be here in 9 more days...

Don't forget to enter my Lantern GIVEAWAY sponsored by CSN - ends Friday


Monday, May 24, 2010

I'd like to thank the Academy Cindy

Cindy from Creations by Cindy just gave me an award (well it was a few weeks ago, and I am a bit slow in accepting it properly)...It was so thoughtful of her to think of Pandora's Box! Thanks Cindy!!

Now, I want to pass the torch and award some other fabulous blogging ladies.
{Here’s how the award works}
  • To receive this award {Trendy Treehouse} you have to promise to share this with 10 other BLOGS that you think are Trendy too.
  • Post about your award in your blog.
  • List your Top 10 Trendy Blogs.
  • Share with them.
  • Leave a link to the Trendy Blog Button.
  • Tell them they need to give this award out to 10 as well.
Here are the wonderful blogs I’ve chosen. Please visit each of these wonderful blogs and CONGRATULATE them!

The Magic Brush
Once Upon a Fairyland
The Crowned Casa
StoryBook Ranch
The Stories of A to Z
Mamie Jane
Sonny Daydreams
Rooms to Inspire
A Cottage Muse
Always Nesting
This takes a while to do, but it is just my way of thanking those who inspire me on a regular basis - so, Thanks ladies, You have insightful and clever ideas to share and I appreciate it! Happy Blogging!!

Don't forget to enter my Lantern GIVEAWAY sponsored by CSN - ends Friday

Sunday, May 23, 2010

A Cheap End Table! and Lantern GIVEAWAY, too

While on Cape Cod last week I found this little table at a Thrify Shop Yard Sale. I liked that I could store books underneath. My original thought was to refinish it, BUT...
it was quicker to pull out the good 'ol black spray paint:
I have the perfect spot for it, right beside the couch:
Not bad for $7.00, huh?
Don't forget about my CSN Lantern GIVEAWAY - enter here - contest ends on Friday!

I am joining
Tools Are For Women, too for the first time!
Made It Monday at the Persimmon Perch
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple

Saturday, May 22, 2010

A LANTERN Giveaway!!

I was recently contacted by CSN stores.CSN has over 200 online stores that carry everything from TV Stands , to kitchen decor to outside decor, such as these great lanterns! The outdoor furniture is just stunning and the children's bedding will make you drool. I LOVE this rug!! Check out all their stores here!

CSN’s mission statement: To build a lasting organization that succeeds and grows by making online shopping rewarding for our customers, partners and employees.

And guess what? They are sponsoring my GIVEAWAY and will send one LUCKY winner one of these lanterns! Wouldn't you LOVE to have this out on the patio or on your front porch?

So, it's quite simple:

1. Leave a comment - and your email, if you do not blog

2. If you follow me, leave another comment stating so - or if you are a new follower, say so!

3. Go to CSN and come back and tell me what your favorite items was - it's a easy website to navigate!

So, there you go, 3 ways to enter this giveaway - Good Luck! I will pick a winner on Friday, May 28.

Gardening...not my favorite thing to do...

I HATE DIRT! and WORMS! and BUGS! and FROGS! and SNAKES!
I envy people who love to garden.
So for just today I am pretending that I love to garden and I am planting some more flowers and herbs - and that's it - after today I will only water them and admire them and pick them!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

More black and white checks...

I found this white candlestick at Marshall's for $4.00 and couldn't refuse it. It practically jumped into my hand. And I knew just what I could do with it...
As I have mentioned before, I like to "DOODLE". So, I sketched a few lines down and across and took my "I can't live without" Sharpie marker and doodled-away!
And it goes well with my new MacKenzie-Childs pedestal cake plate that I bought on Cape Cod last weekend:

Total cost: Under $6.00 ($4.00 for the candelstick and $1.99 for the marker)

Total cost for this one in the MacKenzie-Childs catalog: $98.00: I'm Joining Thrifty Thursday at Tales From Bloggeritaville

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Lovely gifts....

I've been remiss. Sorry. In the past few weeks I have received some lovely little gifts from fellow bloggers:
Jackie at Once Upon a Fairyland sent me a cute note with a handmade tag and some stickers. Audrey from Audrey's Country Crafts sent me some wonderful handmade soap. And Lisa from the Davis Dialogues sent some adorable handmade tags!

You might be wondering why I received these lovely little gifts - JUST BECAUSE!! I have met some wonderful blogging friends in the last year and I just wanted to share these wonderful gals with you! I visit their blogs almost daily and enjoy their talent, wisdom and tales. Visit their blogs and please let them know that I sent you!

Monday, May 17, 2010

My Get-a-way to Cape Cod...

I played hooky and went to Cape Cod to visit one of my best friends, Denise. She lives on a pond in Sandwich and this was my view every morning:
She lives only a few miles from the ocean (and the ocean is the best cure for any distress or ailment!)
We ate and drank our way thru the town as we laughed and walked down memory lane together. Hemisphere is on the bay side of the Cape, right where the canal begins, and we began Happy Hour at the bar overlooking a sun glistening sea.
The Daniel Webster Inn was our next stop for a few more cocktails:
Right down the street is the Belfry Inne, an old church, where the the back of the bar is in the confessional area of the church!! The rooms upstairs are lovely:
Next door is the Painted Lady, a lovely victorian home that was once the "rectory". The tiny bar is very "homey" and the dining rooms are in each room on the 1st floor - so quaint!
One day we had lunch at Beth's Tea Room - quiche and salad - and they have the best Cape Cod cranberry vinaigrette!
And you can't go to the Cape without a stop in Centerville at 1856 Country Store for "penny candy" - my favorite are candy cigarettes!!
We ended day two at Kettle Ho in Cotuit- and as the story goes, the town of Cotuit was purchased from the Indians for a kettle and a hoe:
We ate and drank some more at Tomatoes in Sandwich:
On the way to the Cape, I stopped at the Wrentham Country Store where the Cottage Muse has a booth. It was very easy to identify her area in the store after visiting her blog many times! She has a wonderful display of "shabby chic/paris flea" items, many of which she has painted or hand-made herself.

On the way home I stopped in Natick at Anthropologie, Crate and Barrel and The Container Store. There are many links in this post, but if you are planning a trip to Cape Cod, you'll certainly want to visit some of these links.

A wonderful 5 days - what I refer to as "CAPE COD THERAPY" - lovely scenery, lots of laughs, great food, mouth-watering cocktails, great shopping, sunshine and the ocean breeze, all spent with a great friend!Imagine waking up to this beautiful view every day? I get to do it a few times a year, lucky me!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

"Beautiful You Jewelry"

Might you be interested in buying some jewelry or scarves? If so, mention Pandora's Box in the email and you will receive free shipping - visit Beautiful You Jewelry and see some great accessories!
I'm on a blogging break - off to Cape Cod for a get-a-way!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Third TIME's a Charm...

Do you remember the post in March where I received my clock from the florist shop in Palm Beach and it was damaged...then they sent another one that was in worse shape. Well, this is the 3rd one and it is finally "up and running":
It was worth waiting 3 months for it! Now we can see the time without our glasses LOL

Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Columbus Zoo with Carter...

Last week, while visiting in Ohio, we went to the Columbus Zoo. We had a wonderful time - not just because of this guy:
But because we went to the zoo with this guy:
Carter might live in Ohio, but he'll always be an Orangeman!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

I like to brighten things up in the spring...

My husband just can't understand why I change the bed linen in the spring and fall.

But when you can go to Macy's and get a comforter, euro shams, sheets and pillow cases, bed skirt, pillow shams, 2 toss pillows, sheers, and valances for under $100.00 it should be quite easy for him to understand - don't you agree?

I'm Joining Thrifty Thursday with Tales From Bloggeritaville

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

I will not be beat by a plug...

This is an area in my kitchen that I call the "bar". I keep the liquor in the lower cabinet and all my stemware and crystal above. Look at the placement of the telephone and electrical outlets:
Why do builders do things like this? If I designed this house, I would have put these two outlets closer to the left wood cupboard - and one above the other. They are unsightly!
I was not going to lose this battle! I found a canvas which had a lime green cupcake in the center and I covered the center portion with a wallpaper cutout. The canvas is stapled around a wooden frame, leaving enough depth to cover the telephone plug:
A quick solution to hide those ugly plugs!
Don't you think it looks better?