A Peek

Here's just a peek at what I bought today. Can't wait to show you it all. Thank goodness for giftcards.

They had a section that was greens and reds and LADYBUGS. So cute and red with polka dots. I just gasped.

My family knows me well.

I Wish You Were Here!

How perfect that the spring open house falls on my birthday this year. You know how I love this store. I want to live in it. Here's a peek...

Aren't these bunnies too cute all bunched in their bucket? I think I need one for the yard.

I love my red, white and blue.

This is one of my favorite sections right now.

And for my vintage loving side....

 My best girlfriend and I will be there when it opens tomorrow. Yeah!

Linking to:
How Sweet the Sound
Funky Junk Interiors
Seasonal Sundays

A Day of Fun

Yep, it is my birthday weekend. And I say weekend because my hubby has to be at work on the evening of my birthday so we are celebrating today and early tomorrow. A trip to the nursery, shopping at my favorite store for their spring open house and dinner out with my hubs at my favorite restaurant. If I have to get older, I want to have fun while doing it. Have a great day everyone!

Snuggling In

I did it. I generously gave the crud I had the last two weeks to my kids. Three of the four are now sick but what is the hardest is the two year old being stricken. Poor thing. I am sorry. We have been home for three days straight now so I have tried to use the time to get some good old cleaning done. Scrubbing fixtures in the kitchen and dusting hidden spots. Just more spring sprucing. I love the satisfaction a clean home gives. I don't always have it, but when I do, I gain a sense of calm. A sink of sudsy hot water is a simple pleasure to me. Sick I know. I think it comes from my childhood. Raised with no dishwasher, we hand washed our dishes and that often fell to me.

Glamorous.

I didn't used to be so happy to do my chores when I was a young wife. I used to resent it at times but I heard some good advice once about looking at it as a gift to your family. A privilege to take care of them. Dishes in the sink meant you had food for a meal. Doing laundry meant you had a family to care for, unloading groceries meant you had money to go to the store. Things to be thankful for and not resentful of. Very true and as I reminded myself of this, over time my mindset changed. 

More spring decorating. Have to mix in some fun house chores too.

My little rusty bird bath brought in from the back yard.

I love stools. Stacked or otherwise. They are great for display.

Linking to:
Thrifty Thursdays                   The House in the Roses
Somewhat Simple
Between Naps on the Porch
The Charm of Home
The Shabby Chic Cottage
Raising Homemakers
Common Ground
My Romantic Home
Funky Junk Interiors
Seasonal Sundays
Met Monday

Blogging thoughts

Why do all the good blogs die? Well, not really as most of the blogs I love are still here and thriving but it is always a little sad when a blog you love and are attached to decides to end. There are so many reasons I guess; time, family, health, hurt feelings maybe from another blog. Who knows all the reasons. But is it pathetic that it makes me a little sad to see a blog end? Does it mean I spend way too much time reading blogs? Maybe. Funny how we don't really know each other but we get attached to certain blogs and especially the bloggers.
Blogging is a very unselfish thing when you think about it. You are spending time to make something for other people you don't even know. I have been touched by kindness unexpected and helpfulness generously given, and so how can I help but get attached. Maybe I too will tire of this blog and decide to leave. Nothing is forever right? Thanks to all those out there that have showed me kindness and patience with my questions and especially for letting me share in your blog. I can't wait to see what is new on your pages each day and it brings me joy. A big thanks from me to you.
P.S. I am not going anywhere. I am still mindlessly blogging away and enjoying every minute of it.

Some Irish Charm

Look what came in the mail. I ordered it off of Etsy. LOVE Etsy. The seller sent it to me so quick and I will definitely have to order some more signs from her.

I like it here but I think it looks better in the kitchen. What do you think?

Here is the link to the seller Appalachian Primitive.

Linking to:
Very Merry Vintage Style
A Beach Cottage
All things inspired
Savvy Southern Style
My Romantic Home
Tatertots and Jello

Oranges, Oranges

I have oranges,

oranges and

more oranges.

We are busy picking oranges as they are very ripe right now and we don't want them to go to waste. If you lived near me, I would tell you to grab a bag and get picking so you could take a bag home.

This entire area was once all orange groves. When my parents moved to Covina in the 1950s, my mom said you could smell the blossoms in the air this time of year. Well, I can smell the blossoms as my trees are bursting forth and there is nothing like the heady scent of orange blossom. I love to open my windows and left the fragrance in.

                                        

This is an old postcard and that is the valley I live in now with  Mount Baldy in the background. It is actually snow covered right now.

This entire area was full of packing plants and they all had beautiful packing labels that were literally works of art.

Vintage postcards depict early life in Southern California.

The girls and I are making orange juice today. It is like drinking liquid sunshine.

Linking to:

Faded Charm

The Thrifty Home

My Backyard Eden

An Oregon Cottage

Savvy Southern Style

The House in the Rose

New Life on a Homestead

Vintage Thingy Thursday

Alphabe Thursday

A Place for Tea

Blame It On The Rug

Our den is decorated in blues and reds. Now it is the only room in the house with blue, and I probably would not have chose blue but for the rug. You see my mother in law gave us this beautiful rug in blue with touches of red so there you go. My den color scheme. I say my house is decorated in early mother in law. She is a compulsive decorator.

Very well used sofas that have seen better days but are still very comfy. The afghans were made by my mom and are special to me.

The little basket purse with the drum and flags was found at a nearby antique store on clearance. It is lined with the sweetest fabric.

We love stars around here.

A wooden cheese box I had to have. Bought off ebay.

Linking to:

Coastal Charm

Tuesdays Treasures

A Stroll thru Life

Sue Loves Cherries

Share the Love

Frugal Challenge Update and Stretching My Grocery Dollars

Well, I wanted to finish doing my taxes, or at least get them ready for the tax guy, but I am glad to say I am done. They will be dropped off tomorrow and I am relieved to have this job completed.

Having been sick last week, I did not get around to my regular deal hunting and coupon runs but there is always this week. The upside is I didn't spend as much as I didn't go to the grocery store and we were forced to eat out of the pantry and freezer. It is nice to have food stockpiled for just these types of needs.

I wanted to share some of my grocery budget stretchers. I used to easily spend up to $200 a week on food and toiletries for six people and four animals. I have now almost cut this in half. Some weeks are still closer to $150  but that is still a savings of $200 per month. While sick last week, I had to fill a prescription and knew I had a coupon for a $25 gift card to Albertsons for a new prescription. The meds cost me .99 and I rec'd the gift card so I made $24.01 to shop with. Look for coupons like this to markets, drugstores and Target. I am sure there are others but these are the ones I have used.

Another way I stretch my food dollars is to try and use absolutely everything up. I HATE to waste food. I will freeze almost anything to keep it from spoiling. Some examples of what you can freeze are cottage cheese that when thawed, is great to use in lasagna in place of ricotta cheese.

 I freeze cheese too, and once thawed I just grate it and use it for things where it will be melted. You can't tell any difference. Same with cream cheese and sour cream. Before they spoil, I will freeze and just use them in my mashed potatoes the next time I make them.

Fruit is another thing I will freeze when it is getting old. Bananas freeze easily in their peels and I just thaw and use in muffins or bread. Berries and grapes can be frozen and added to smoothies.

 Bread can be made into bread crumbs when it is getting old and stale. One thing we do is have French toast once a week. I use up all the old bread and heels that no one uses for sandwiches. The kids have always ate the heels this way so they are not picky. This post is getting sort of wordy so I will share my other ideas next time.

Linking to:
Time Warp Wife

My Closet - Don't Be Shocked

I am sure you have gathered that my motto is simplify. If you've noticed it seems half my posts are simple this or simple that but it is what this blog is about. I am a simple gal.  Now, I love to see other people's closets and pantries and stockpiles just like any other gal, so I thought I would share my closet, such as it is. In an effort to de-clutter and again simplify my life, last year I decided to get rid of 70% of my clothing. I, like a lot of people, had things that were years old and I never wore, but just seemed to hang onto. I also stopped working so I no longer needed a wardrobe for the office.

Our 50s ranch has very little closet space so we had a wall of built ins put in our room several years ago. My hubby uses two of the closet spaces and I use the other. I am a jeans and t-shirt gal with a few cute tops thrown in for necessary occasions. 

I know, not very neat nor organized but I can see what I've got. I am just not that into clothes and would rather spend $100 at the nursery than the mall. Just me! Scary huh? Also, I am very careful about what I buy now. I am striving to be very purposeful in my spending and only replace what I need to, and make sure I try on and love everything that comes home with me. No more buying because I thought it was a good deal or looked cute on the hanger, only to go to Goodwill. I would rather have the money now than the old clothes I gave away, hardly worn or never used.

I do have this high boy for storing my foldables but that is pretty much it. Our coat closet holds a few jackets and sweaters, but you don't need many of those in Southern California. Are you shocked?

Linking to:

Keeping It Simple

The Saved Quarter

Tip Junkie

New Nostalgia

Met Monday

A Woman of Notes

Bowl Full of Lemons

Red Toile

My mother in law is at it again and has bought herself a new sofa, sooo she wanted to know if I wanted her red toile sofa. Well, YES! We were going to put it in our den but it was like a sofa showroom in there so we decided to put it in our front room. This is a funny little room that was originally the dining room but with a wall removed and an addition it is now just a funny little room. We have our piano in here and it is nice to have some extra seating. I can see the cushions need some adjusting and I need to shop for pillows.

A new rug is a must as the old green one does not match.

Our little Chi has already found her way up on the new sofa. I am sure it will be a favorite of the cat who will want to look out the front window.

Linking to:

Little Red House

A Delightsome Life

The Rain has Cleared

The sun is bright. The flowers are thankful for the warm sun.

Someone doesn't care that it is no longer raining and is wearing her new rain boots with her jammies,

and her jeans.

Here's is my little turtle brought home from the Cambria Nursery last weekend.

Not sure where he will land but he is guarding my snapdragons right now.

The warm afternoon sun coming through the windows is so welcome after a cold couple of days.

Linking to:

Boogieboard Cottage

Met Monday

A Southern Daydreamer