Change Isn't Coming It's Here

This year is proving to be the year of change and goodness gracious it's only half over. More things are changing in my life than I can share with you today. The biggest change is that I've picked up a roomie, well really two. Several months ago it became apparent that my mom was struggling living alone. She would often forget what she was doing when she was just washing dishes or even getting dressed. I noticed that several times she'd forget to lock the door or would leave her keys in the the lock so someone could easily have walked in the house. One day she seemed to be falling asleep at the top of the stairs. The thought of her falling down the stairs was unnerving so my brothers, my mom and I together decided that it was best she move in with me.

I knew it would be a challenge having her move in. She like all of us had a lot of stuff but my biggest concern was her little Boston Terrier Lizzie. Lizzie is adorable but she hates other dogs. She once attacked my brothers dog, also a Boston Terrier and scarred that little thing for life. There was no way I  was going to put up with that with my Pug Roxie. This was Roxie's house, bottom line. If they couldn't get along and one had to go. Sorry Lizzie. I promise to find a nice home for you. 

The first day we brought her to the house we were prepared for a fight. I put Roxie on a leash and my brother had a hold of Lizzie. It was time to see how they would react to each other so we let the chains go and waited for the battle to begin. So what happened? Nothing at all. No barking no snarling no growling  just a lot of butt sniffing and that's all. What were we so scared about? 

Today these two little ladies are happy to have each others company. They are too old to play but they love to go outside together, sit together, beg together and sleep together. If one barks the other barks. If one runs the other is close behind. They even steal food out of each others bowl. Lizzie more than Roxie. 

Our fears were not realized which was a huge relief. It was now on to the biggest hurdle, taking care of mom. Everything was going just fine until I noticed she seemed to be having more and more problems. Walking and feeding herself became difficult, she slept a lot, suddenly became incontinent and could still not keep track of what she was doing. One day she seemed completely disconnected. She kept her eyes closed although she was awake. She had developed this tapping motion with her hand that seemed involuntary. She completely loss her appetite had no energy, was very stiff and could barely walk. This really worried me so I called her doctor and he said he wanted to admit her to the hospital. There were no available beds at the time but that evening the doctor called me and said one opened up and to bring her in. This part shocked me a bit. It was like I had to make a reservation. What would have happened if a bed was not available for a day or two.

That evening my mother was finally admitted to the hospital. To make a long story short, after many blood tests, x-rays and MRIs as well as a painful spinal tap it was determined that she had a build up of fluid on the brain which caused a condition called Parkinsonism. I had heard of Parkinson's Disease but not Parkinsonism so I was a bit confused. I still don't quite understand it all so if you want to know more about it, please call your doctor to discuss it. During her stay mom saw several doctors. One wanted to put a shunt in her head to relieve the pressure on her brain caused by the fluid build up but another said the best thing to do was treat her for the Parkinsonism with medication and they all determined that was the best course.

My mom was treated with medication and sent to rehab. We were hopeful she would get better soon but we could see she was getting worse. After a month of watching her condition worsen to the point where should could not eat or drink we told the doctor she was not getting any better and still needed help. She was re-admitted to the hospital where this time they performed the surgery to put the shunt in her head. After a couple of weeks she was sent back to a different rehab center. The therapists and nurses there all worked wonders with mom. They helped her to remember how to eat, drink, read, speak more than a few words at a time and to get the strength to to sit up and eventually walk. 

For two months my brothers and I made sure at least one of us was with her everyday for support and encouragement and to make sure things were going well. Seeing my mom in the hospital and not being able to talk with her was very hard on all of us. We were so happy when they released her. Even the rehab center said she was a model patient. She was one of their success stories which I totally understand. Mom's home and although her body is weaker her mind is stronger than ever. Now that she is living with me we are just thrilled.

  

Love you mom.

Barbara

Thriftstore Find - Dressers and Chests

I wasn't in the market for a dresser but the Habitat Restore had several that caught my eye. They were all well built, solid wood and had terrific details. Some had a few scratches but that's to be expected with furniture that's several decades old. They all had simple, clean lines and were neither too plain or ornate. It's hard to find new furniture built this well and especially at this price. They all ranged from $40 to $60 bucks. Whether you refinished, painted them or in some cases just gave it a good cleaning they are all well worth the price. 

I love the arches on these two pieces. I definitely would never purchase both. That would be too much of a good thing. 

Check out the unique hardware detail on this chest.  

This is by far my favorite piece. Love the color and the recessed hardware.

Have you recently had a thrifty furniture find you were excited about?

Enjoy your day.

B.

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Friday's Fascination: Orange Spaces

I suddenly have orange on the brain. It could be because it's only about three degrees today and I'll run with anything that says warm weather is on the way. Orange is a seasonless color that says summer when it's hot outside and fall when it's chilly. It's energetic and not one I would ordinarily have picked as an accent color. That was how I felt at least until I saw how the bright orange trim spices up the crisp white shams in this shot from a bedroom featured in House Beautiful. 

When this vibrant citrus color is paired with white, black or any neutral it adds a colorful twist that can really brighten a space. If you are feeling bold and want to add a real punch of color to a room, step out side the box a bit give this color a shot. Here are a few accessories to might help you get there.

 

1. Dana Gibson
2. Jonathan Adler
3. Zinc Door
4. Bloomingdales
5. Horchow
6. Z Gallerie
7. Overstock.com
8. Tonic Home
9. Lamps Plus
10. Zazzle
11. Barclay Butera

I may have to find a way to incorporate this fun color into one of my rooms. But which one?

B.

Thriftstore Finds - Bamboo

One of my favorite thrift store finds was this gorgeous bamboo console table. It measures 4' 3" wide x 12" deep and was manufactured by the Brandt company in Hagerstown, MD. It has such great detail like the rich color of the wood and bamboo, the three paneled doors, of course the painted leaves on the front and sides and it even has a shelf inside for lots of extra storage. It's in excellent shape except for the top which just  needs a good sanding and re-staining. For $25 it think it was a steal. 

The other piece I found this year was this wonderful bamboo mirror. Ahh yes. Insert deep sigh here. The bamboo mirror. There is a long story behind this mirror but I promise to keep it brief. Let me explain. ARRRGGHHH!!!!

I spotted this mirror at the Salvation Army thrift store and it was marked, get this, $6.95. One look and I said to myself, this baby is mine. I'd been looking for one and definitely did not want to pay top dollar. This was a gift from heaven. Thank you heaven. I also added to my cart a beautiful crystal decanter, a silver sequined box and piece of gray wool for $2. When I got to the register the cashier said that someone had changed the price on the mirror so she couldn't sell it at the price marked and proceeded to rip off the tag. Well that was just completely unacceptable so I huffed and puffed and demanded to speak to the manager. The manger came out, looked over the mirror and again stated that someone changed the price. So now I am not only mad, but I am offended because it sounded as if they were accusing me of switching the tags. Me. Me?? How dare they question my integrity. I then threw a big ole hissy fit, said I don't want any of this stuff and proceeded to walk out. I went home angry, insulted and just a little hurt. I go there every week and they should know I, Miss Honest Every Moment of Every Day, would never do such a thing.  

As I calmed down I began to realize that they were right and the mirror had to be the wrong price. It was very heavy measuring 24x36 and I would guess that it really should be more like $15-20 bucks. I was also disappointed that I didn't get the other pieces that I really wanted. Instead of having a tantrum I should have asked them if they would give me a discount but my feelings were bruised since they insinuated I altered the price. 

A week goes by and I still can't get that mirror off my mind. I've always wanted a bamboo mirror and this was nearly perfect. I decided to go back and get the mirror. I was too ashamed to go in myself and opted to send my beloved son. Sure enough he found and bought the mirror but now we have a new problem. It is written on the back that the price is $22 and the tag reads to me $22. When they rang it up they rang it at $28. Dang it dang it dang it. I can't win. So at this point I ask myself should I go back and tell them to give me my $6 or do I chalk it up to a $6 donation. I decided it's a $6 donation that I am happy to donate. It is after all not just a retail store, it's the Salvation Army. 

By the middle of the day that store got the better of me. At the end of the day I was the better for it. Not only do I have my mirror but I donated to the Salvation Army twice in one day. Once when I bought the mirror and second when I donated $6.

Still love thrifting. Always will.

B.

Inspirational Winter Decor

It took some time but I finally put away all the Christmas and holiday decorations. Now that it's done I looked around my house and my first thought was glad that’s done. My second thought was, now what? It’s easy to forget that although the holiday season is over winter has only just begun. We have at least three long months of cold snowy weather to get through and if you live in the Midwest it could be even longer. 

It gets a little chilly on the main floor in my home so I want to at least make it look warm and cozy by adding a few throw blankets and fluffy pillows. Add a cup of coffee and the latest issues of my decor magazine and all that's left is to curl up on the sofa and stay warm because it's way to cold to go out. 

I checked out my favorite stores and websites like Z Gallerie and Target to get inspired. My brother told me I am into shabby chic because I have a lot of white furniture. I don't think that is quite accurate but I do like a clean, simple look with neutrals and lots of texture. Here are some pieces that I took a fancy to.

1. Z Gallerie candles
2. Deco 79 basket
3. Z Gallerie throw
4. Target pillow
5. Target throw
6. Target throw
7. Z Gallerie pillow
8. Overstock.com candle holder

Before I go making any new purchases I'll take a look around the house and see what I already own and what I can reuse. I'll even take a trip over to the thrift store because I am sure to find something I can use for $1 or $2. It's getting cold and I fear the roads will get icy so off to the stores I go before it's too late.

How did you cozy up your home for winter?

B.

Organizing After Christmas

Christmas is over. It was a lot of fun but man is it a lot of work. It’s time now to put away all our decorations, pack up all the outdoor lights and prep for next year. I prefer not to buy things at full price so I checked out the clearance aisles at HomeGoods, Target and Joann’s. I had hoped to find some deals but was disappointed because the pickings were slim. I'll look elsewhere because it is clearance or bust for me.

If you don’t have containers for your Christmas decorations now is the time to get them. I have large containers that I labeled according to use. My bulb collections seems to be growing so I bought a few extra containers and sorted my bulbs by color which should make it so much easier when I decorate next year. For instance, I used aqua and teal bulbs this year but next year I might go all red. I won't have to sort through all of my bulb containers and can just pull out the one labeled red. 

I also have some special bulbs that I have collected over the years that have more sentimental value. I want to take care not to scratch or break them so I invested in a good two layer Christmas bulb holder. I got this one from Walmart. What I liked about it was that you can customize sections to fit the size of your bulbs, also, you can add additional layers because they just snap together. 

I also dedicated one box for just lights and garland, and a separate one for knick knacks, the tree skirt and tree stand.  

I replenished my stash of Christmas cards and money holders and labeled a small box which included some forever stamps and an address book. 

Next it’s time to take down the tree. Let’s have a moment of silence shall we. 

Now for the tough part. The purge. Let’s face it, you can’t keep it all otherwise someone is going to call you a Christmas hoarder. I bought these teal bulbs and honestly I didn’t like them. My home is not well lit and at times they blended in too much with the tree because they were dark. I liked the aqua blue much better. I kept only the glittery teal bulbs and gave away the plainer bulbs.

Also, I had way too much garland and lights. I prefer lights that have green wires because they disappear on the tree and in the bushes and gave away the lights with white wires. If there are any bulbs you have that you don’t like anymore give them to the Salvation Army. Someone will love them again. If there are any that are damaged toss them.

Now my boxes are all labeled, organized and neat. When Christmas comes around next year I will be ready to decorate and have a lot less stress.

It's too bad I couldn't find any new discounted decorations that I liked. I'll have to keep trying and dig a little deeper. Now that my closet is nicely organized, I have a little more space to fill up. 

B.

Say Hello to 2015

Looks like we made it to 01/01/15. Here in Chicago the temperature has not been as cold as last year and we've had next to no snow. Last week we had a couple days where the temperature got as high as 50 degrees. That's good weather for some die hard golfers. After what we went through in 2014 I am not complaining. So in the coming days I will put away all the Christmas decorations, return all the gifts my mother didn't want, enjoy a plate of black eye peas and cornbread and reflect on this past year.

I'm not big on resolutions but I did have one goal and that was to travel more. So this year I stuck my toe in the water and took a quick trip to Destin, Florida. It was a brief but wonderful trip because I went with my lovely sisters Kellisa and Felice whom I had not seen in a few years. It was a joy getting to know them again. I quickly realized that one is always camera ready the other is always camera shy. Both are adorable.

 

I first flew to Atlanta to meet up with them and was there all of about 6-7 hours before the three of us hopped in a car and hit the road. I felt so much pride watching them drive through Alabama and on to Florida. This was something I could never do because I don't like to drive. If it were me behind the wheel we would have stopped every hour to take a break from the stress and fatigue. They were such an inspiration.

The hotel we stayed in had a view of the ocean and a palm tree by the balcony. Unfortunately it held a bunch of giant ants and since none of us can stand creepy crawlies we didn't spend much time out there. 

We spent a couple of days on the beach walking, talking and watching the waves and they somehow got me to go in the water. It felt good so I kept going out further and further. I went a little too much further because my knees buckled under the force of the waves and I went down. It was funny at first and I was laughing very hard but then suddenly I couldn't get my balance. We all realized about the same time that I was struggling to stand and my girls came to my rescue. No more going out further for me. It was still fun. 

Next we went on a boat ride to see the dolphins. I thought I caught them swimming on my cell phone but I am somewhat technically challenged and had not pushed the record button. Rats! We even thought about going hang gliding. Yes me and my fat butt wanted to hang glide. Not sure if there was a weight limit, but if not, I was game. Sadly we asked a little too late and all the vendors were full. We'll go another year. Hopefully I'll still have the nerve to go through with it.

     

We spent the last night having a nice dinner at a fancy seafood restaurant. The food was fine but nothing memorable. The evening could have been nicer but the wait was terribly long and the waiter's hand was even longer. Dude got a little too familiar with my sisters derriere. Had we not been so tired we'd have had to school him on keeping his hands to himself. 

                             

I was so sorry to leave this town but it was time to head back to the city. We hopped in the car and my brave, strong, capable sisters drove us all the way home. The cherry on top of the cake was seeing my brother and his family who I had not seen since our father passed away. Our dad would have been proud seeing us all together.

My trip was only for a few days but what it did to warm my heart and my soul is immeasurable. I look forward to seeing my southern sisters again, traveling to Destin or some other resort town, and even taking a trip to another city in this glorious country.

I don't know what 2015 has in store for me but I very excited to find out.

B.