Cancer Sucks!!! Part 1

Hello All,
Yes I said it CANCER SUCKS. We are all aware that the month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sometimes I have mixed feelings in the month of October, kinda bitter sweet. It is always a good feeling to see all the donations and advertisments about Breast Cancer and the fight for a cure of this terrible disease. My prayer is that in this life time there will be a cure for breast cancer. The bitter part of the month of October is it always remind me of my own diagnosis of breast cancer. Yes I'm a breast cancer survivior.

Faithful followers please grab your cup of coffee, tea or wine as I share my experience with BC, let me apologize for a lengthly post and plenty of pictures. I know that this subject is off the path of my regular decorating, spray painting and my new grand girl, however this subject is near and dear to my heart. There maybe a part two of this post but understand that this is part of my healing.
In December of 2007 I woke up one morning excited to start my day I had already prepared my Things To Do List for the day. I felt I had a great life, marriage, job, family I was loving life. While standing in my closet pondering over the perfect outfit to wear to work, I felt a sore spot under my right armpit. Yes it was a lump. After confirming with my hubbie that we had both felt a lump my first priority when I made it to work was to call my doctor. She scheduled me for an immediate appointment with a Breast Specialist. That appointment lead to numerous test, a ultra sound, a MRI, and final a biopsy on December 27, 2007. I waited to hear my results, but GOD had already prepared me for the news that I would soon receive. On December 31, 2007 I called the doctor to find out my result from the biopsy, the receptionist informed me that the doctor would have to call me back. Yes I did receive a call from the doctor thrity mintues later with my results.
December 31,2008 is a day that I will never forget, that is the day that I received my diagnois that I had Breast Cancer. Wow on New Year's Eve, was I suppose to be getting prepared to enjoy a great evening with the hubbie? Actually I was at work and had just received news that would change my life forever. The first thing I did was call the hubby who was also at work, we both decided to leave work and meet at home. The thrity mintue drive home was a blank, the only thing that I remember was this. As I approached a red light I looked over to see a young lady driving next to me, I questioned GOD and asked why me and asked him why not her? I did not know this young lady at all. Understand that I would not wish BC on my enemy if I had one, but I questioned GOD, because I just did'nt understand. But I immediately thought why not ME!!! I knew that this was my lot and I would have to deal with it, however I knew that I would be ok with GOD.

Baby Ray Nursery

I shared the great news earlier in a post about my daughter expecting her first baby. The new addition is due any day now. While waiting I have design a board for the nursery. I spent time at my daughters place on Saturday so I was able to take some pictures of the room to show you guys.
Here is the mood board.

I still have to nail some of the elements of the room. I'm indecisive about the mirror and the rug for the space, so that's why the board has two of each. My daughter made her request for the room as well. She did not want a kiddy theme nor did she want a mobile, so the picture of the bedding I downloaded from the internet and the mobile was attached. the sex of the baby is unknown so the bedding set had to be neutral. I'll share more details when I do the reveal of the space next week. My daughter has no idea of how this room will be decorated so the reveal will also be for her.

This is a view of the room from the door.

I have my work cut out for me.

They crib was purchased last month. The space is small and I have some challenges with the layout of the room. I stil have to purchase the drapes, along with a couple of baskets and picture frames. I have to tweak the mood board a little as well. So this weekend I'll be shopping to pick up some items to put the finishing touch on this room. I cant wait to see my sweet grandchild little face. I'll be back to show the reveal, and maybe the baby. I better hurry and finish the nursery before the big arrival.

Such is Life- Surgery, Birthday, A Car, A Little Baby and I'm Back!!!!

I pray that you guys have not given up on me and my journal to make my house a home. Well you all do understand how life sometimes throw you a curve ball. Boy when that curve ball hits all plans are changed, that agenda, and projects to complete list, everything is put on HALT!!!!!!
I have so much to share along with pictures. I have thought about giving up my little part-time blogging gig, but no way I truly like it. I have decided to continue to share with all 13 of my followers.
Well some of you may know that my daughter Destiny is expecting my 1st grandbaby. Yes I said grandbaby, because they have decided not to find out the sex of the baby. Ok let me confess that not knowing the sex of the baby has made it really difficult to buy tons of clothers for the bundle of joy. But I'm sure I will have plenty years of that to come. She has two weeks before her delivery date. Yay!!!! I have been ordered to decorate the nursery. Since given the task I have been gathering things to make the room extra special. I will be sharing pictures really soon.
My doctor informed me a while back that I would possibly need surgery, boy what women don't go thru. Anyway I had surgery in early August and is doing so well. I was off work for six weeks and was able to get some projects completed. Yep I will share along with pictures really soon I promise. GOD is truly a healer and I'm grateful.
Well people I must say that there will always be bumps in the road of life,but GOD is always faithful.
On August 29th, a car ran into my house. What's the odds of that happening in a life time? Oh and that was a day before my birthday. Yep you heard it right a CAR crashed right into the side of my house. Yep my projects to complete list has just grown. Thank GOD no one was hurt.

Picture of the front of the car that entered the side of my house.

Up close view. What happened???

Please get this car out of my house.

Folks, I will be back to share about the nursery, got to get moving on that project. I'm so excited!!!

A Three Legged Chair and a Dining Room Project

I love a great thrift store find. I post a month ago about my SA(Salvation Army)find. Well I have always admired a beautiful dining room to bring family and friends together with a great meal. Well our home was actually missing dining room furniture so I was on the hunt for a budget friendly set. On a recent visit to the SA I ran across this set.

Black oval table with four chairs.

I totally fell in love when I eyed this set, the table has two extension leaves, which is great for holiday entertainment.

A close up of the chairs, just beautiful.


The details of the chairs really made me fall in love. I looked right pass the outdated green fabric. I start to envision my chairs with some new fabric. If the price was right I knew that this would be a done deal. I had found the perfect set, some new fabric, paint and a little work is all that was needed. After a careful inspection of the set I was disappointed!!!

A three legged chair!!! What....Well what is a girl to do once she has fallen in love? I looked for the missing chair leg, but could not find it. I knew that I could used the broken leg in my negotiation of the price. I wondered could the Wizard fix the leg himself? After talking to the manager the price that she quoted me for the table, three chairs and the three legged chair, it was a DONE DEAL, SOLD!
I did decide to invest and get the chair leg replaced professionally, and the shop did an excellent job.

Well let the work begin. I plan to have a holiday party and need to stay focus on this room. Presently I'm searching for window treatments, fabric for the chairs and a cute bench for the room. Here are some of the fabrics I chose for the chairs.

I love black & white.

This fabric is gorgeous, and would bring in some color. I have pillows in this print on my sofa which will pull the rooms together for cohesiveness.

I also like this fabric.

Well I will have my hands full with this project. Of course I will keep you all updated on my progess. Which fabric do you like for the chairs? I'll love to hear your recommendations.

Enough said, work ahead.

Vacation, Antique Shopping & Flea Markets

I did share in my last post that me and the hubbie went away on vacation in celebration of our Anniversary. We went to Branson Missouri for seven days. Let me confess that I had already stalked out some shopping spots, seven days without shopping almost impossible for me. Yes we did have a great time and went to see New Shanghai Acrobats it was such an amazing show.

The hubbie snapped this picture before we went into the show. Check out that chick on the poster behind me she really know some tricks.

On our anniversary we went on the Branson Landing Princess for a nice dinner cruise. Because it was our anniversary we got special treatment from the staff, and the food & wine was excellent.

Such a beautiful ship.

I cannot swim so I had to first find out were the life jackets were kept.
Check out that fabulous house in the background (no it's not mine)dang!!

We went out for a scrumptious lunch at Cantina Laredo Mexican Restaurant, OMG. Ok another confession I love yes love Mexican foods and the table side guacamole was delicious. We feasted on Taco De Pescado(Mahi-Mahi)and the Mango Margarita was off the chain!! After expressing to the hostess how great the food was, he gave me & the hubbie free gift cards to the restaurant, well there is not a Cantina Laredo in Chicago yet but one will be opening in late August.(Yay.)True saying a close mouth won't get fed. I highly recommend this restaurant if it is in your city, so check out their website for locations.

Ok now to the shopping.... Missouri have so many antique malls and flea markets so I had to make my round. I even hit a couple of my favorite stores while I was there. I snapped a couple of pic's of some of the things I saw and fell in love with.

Kirklands Mirror($79.00 dollars and I had a coupon)I didnt purchase it we needed the space in the truck.

Two beauties at T.J. Maxx

Cute I must say.(No that man in the background is not with me).

A side view she is truly stunning.

The Doublemint Twins, so cute.

These babies are fabulous.

Lovely at $39.00 each.

Another confession I love flowers, these were at a antique market so I grabbed eight of these prints to frame. What a steal at $4.00 each and they were all in very good shape.

A close up of that gorgeous house again, could you live there?
I also visited on of my favorite stores Belk, which is only in the South but I purchased some nice dresses on sale. I love this store they always have great sales. Sorry for the long post... but I missed you guys. I will be sharing my upcoming project later this week and I need you guys help.
Enough said,
Lo

Happy Anniversary

Today is my Anniversary!! I have been married to my husband for 16 years. When I hear about the divorce rate, and the broken Hollywood marriages, I feel blessed and grateful. It is truly a blessing from GOD. All sixteen years have not been great, excellent, fabulous, adorable... you get my point. No fairy tale stories here, just keeping it 100% real. However we have endured issues, prayed faithfully, and worked hard to say to each other Happy Anniversary Honey!!! We are away on vacation in celebration of our Anniversary. Enjoy your weekend.

I'm Back

Hey guys I have been MIA, but I'm back!!! Sometimes it's necessary to rest, regroup and return. I'll share a sneak peek of my recent SA(Salvation Army) find with you guys. I'll be shopping for fabric soon and will reveal my livingroom soon.

Table has 2 leaves for large holiday parties.

I love the details of these chairs, but this fabric has to go.