Winter Skin Anyone?

Do you have winter skin?  I sure do!  Although, to be perfectly honest with you I have winter skin year round.  I constantly need moisturizing lotion.  I don't have extremely dry skin but I do have dry skin that sometimes gets a little itchy.  Ultimately, I need some type of lotion daily.

I remember years ago meeting a woman who had the most beautiful skin I have ever seen.  Literally her skin just glowed.  When I asked her secret, it was plain and simple, moisturizer and lots of it.  She said her skin was actually very dry and she applies lotion every day, several times a day.  I also wanted to know what she used on her skin.  When she told me she used the body lotion from Bath and Body Works I was very envious!   Because, not only does their lotion smell devine, it was waaaayyy out of my budget.  That was until, I learned a little secret and developed a very satisfying indulgent habit.

Every year in January, and again sometime in the summer, (I think) they have a fantastic sale on their 8oz. body lotions.  In January, they have quite a bit of other items on sale too, but their lotions are by far the best deal. 

For several years now, I have been stocking up on my favorites scents when they go on sale.  This is one of the best bargains that I treat myself to yearly.  I usually only spend around $20.00 (or slightly over) and this supply lasts me well until the next sale, or about a year.  I sometimes might buy 1 or 2 during the summer sale because I want a different scent.

I only purchase these when they are on sale for $3.00 a bottle.  That's right, you heard me correctly!  In case you didn't know they really do go on sale that low!  Now that is a huge bargain considering they are usually $9.50 each.  It is well worth stocking up, during this sale.  Here are a few of my favorites.

This scent, Cotton Blossom, is my all time favorite.  I bought three of these this time.

I also enjoy this scent, Cool Citrus Basil.  I purchased two of these.

This year I also decided to throw two of these in the bag.  The sun-ripened raspberry has not been one of my regular purchases but I really liked it the other day, so in the bag it went.  I really almost do love them all, but I often find my preferences changing from time to time.  That's why I sometimes hit the summer sale too.

At the check out counter they had sample bottles for $1.00 so I decided to get one of these too.  They are great for keeping in the car or in your purse.  They come in handy for when you need just a dab on your hands, which I usually do!

  I just love this sale and thought you might too so that's why I am telling you about it.  It is still going on now, but will most likely be ending very soon.  You can go online and get the same deal if don't have a Bath and Body Works near you.

I am sharing this for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday.  Please be sure and check the previous link for more great buys and bargains.

Thanks for stopping by, please let me know if you do.

I always enjoy hearing from you!

Mary

   

It's Winter Time!

Thank you all for such sweet comments!  Yes, I am thrilled with my win!  How could I not be?  I know each of you would be too and it is such fun to be able to share my joy with you!  I am glad you like my new blog too and I really appreciate those of you who followed me over here!  I hope I won't disappoint.

Today it's Seasonal Sunday and I cannot help but think of a better time then today to show you this.

There's no mistaking it's winter time here in the south, now.  We sure are feeling it, inside and out!

I've been enjoying seeing all your winter mantles, and I just had to create one myself.

I am calling mine...Winter Time!

I've got snowflakes dangling all over.

I used my little white clock as the centerpiece.

Along with a cloche full of snowballs.  Hehe!  Use your imagination now, Okay?

I just recently purchased the winter vine and snowflakes from Michael's on sale.  You can read all about that and a few other finds here.

These little dollar tree birds have been so versatile all year.

I really enjoyed putting this vignette together.  Isn't it fun sharing our mantle vignettes?  I think so!  I am also linking to the following parties;

Winter Mantle Party

Table Top Tuesday

We are expecting winter storms to come in this evening with freezing rain and possible snow.  Yikes!  I will be totally amazed if we actually get it again so soon after the Christmas snow, especially since we got a heavy snow storm early last year too.  We rarely ever get this much precipitation here in South Carolina.  We've got all our firewood and gas for the generator ready too, cause freezing rain often means downed power lines around here.   I'll be stocking up on few food essentials this afternoon as well, because that's what we do around here when there's talk of storms.  I hope you are staying warm and cozy where ever you are in your neck of the woods.  It's sure to be a cold one!

Brrr!!!!  Feels like Winter time!!!!

Thanks so much for visiting and following me!

Leave me a note if you stop by.  It's always good to hear from you.

Mary

Cha..cha..changes!

Good Afternoon!  Welcome to my new blog!  Before you read any further please be sure and go over to my sidebar and add yourself as a new follower.  I would be ever so grateful!!!  As you may have figured out already, I was not able to change the name of  my previous blog w/out either loosing you  or becoming a domain name.   Since I am not quite ready to commit to becoming a domain and my followers are still relatively low in numbers I decided it was best just to create a new blog.  This way I can still leave my old blog up to direct traffic over here! 

If you've made it here by way of my old blog, THANK YOU!  Please be sure and FOLLOW ME NOW!  I really do not want to loose anyone!  I enjoy y'all too much!

As I promised, if you read my former post on my other blog, Sailing Simply, I've got one more fabulous thrifty to show you!  This was the thriftiest of deals eva, because none of it cost me one dime! 

The other night, the Mr. and I were sitting on the sofa's chilling out for the evening when he got up and walked by the front door to turn off the porch lights.  He startled me in a loud voice by saying, "What are these two great big boxes doing here on the front porch?".  I nearly tripped over my own feet trying to get up cause I knew what they were and had been waiting on them.

Here's a glimpse of what was inside.  Does anyone vaguely remember anything about this?

Pardon the yellow photo, but those are white boxes and YES, there are 8 of them total!  That's right!  This is 8 (4 piece) place settings of Lenox Butlers Pantry Buffet, that I won from Lenox on FB.  I bet you can imagine the happy dance I was doing.  I was so excited, I had to unpack each and every box that night.

Yay!  Every piece was there and intact, no broken dishes!  They were all so well packed too.

In case you missed this on one of my posts, let me fill you in.  Lenox on FB had several giveaways in December.  All you had to do was submit a photo with a caption using your Lenox to win.  

I was the first one chosen.  I could not believe my good fortune when they asked me what pattern I would like.  I was actually able to choose anything I wanted.  Can you believe that?  Look!  I even received a sweet note enclosed from them with my dishes!  Lenox is just awesome!

  At first, I was going to choose the Butlers Pantry Gourmet pattern that I've already started collecting.  Then I thought I might Lenox's Holiday Tarten pattern that I have loved forever and a day, ultimately I went with the Butlers Pantry Buffet.

It was a hard choice but one, I was able to be 100% satisfied with!

  I chose this pattern because what I have admired most about the Butlers Pantry line is that the dishes all have so many different variations but all coordinate together.

  I also have a total of the eight of the Gourmet dishes now since my mother added on to the ones I already had for Christmas.  So basically now when I combined the new dishes with the ones I already had I have enough settings for sixteen.

Aren't these the largest mugs you have ever seen?  Wow!  I told my mom these aren't mugs, they are more like tea glasses!  LOL! 

As if this wasn't enough, lucky me still had a $35.00 certificate from CSN Stores.  I quickly was able to cash it in for this.

The Butler's Pantry pattern has two sets of salt and pepper shakers.  They have a large set and smaller ones as well.  These are the larger ones.

I am ever so thrilled with my wins and to be well established in collecting this pattern.  I now feel like I can focus on the larger serving pieces with time.  That is a luxury I never expected to see when I first started collecting them.

  However, I have to say, I'm not sure where I will put anything else.  My little china cabinet is so full now!

Didn't I tell you so!  I have combined all my dishes here.  I alternated the plates to show the variety, isn't is wonderful?  I ran out of space up top and had to store the other 8 dinner plates I have below.  That's a problem I am very happy to have! 

On the top shelf, I have a mix of the Butlers Pantry Gourmet and Buffet Dinner plates, my eight Lenox Accoutrement's salad plates, and two of the mugs.

The middle shelf holds the Butler Pantry Buffet soup bowls, mugs, salt and pepper and this lovely handmade ceramic dish I found recently at the thrift store.  I am amazed how it match's perfectly.  You can read about that here.

On the bottom shelf  are more of the dinner plates, mugs and the eight salad plates from the Butler's Pantry Buffet pattern.

Well, what do you think?  Are you glad you came on over from the other blog?  Wasn't this worth the extra effort?  I hope you think so!  I plan to do lot's of beautiful tablescapes and such with these.

  I've still got more new Lenox dishes my husband gave me for Christmas I haven't even shared with you yet.  As a matter of fact, I have lots to share with you and plan to do most of that here on this blog.   As I've posted on the other blog, I may keep the other one active for more of my sailing adventures too.  Please bear with me as I continue to tweek and update the appearance of this blog.

Thank you so much for following me!

Please be sure and visit the following parties;

A Few of My Favorite Things

Metamorphosis Monday

Table Top Tuesday

I am so blessed by each and everyone of you!  Your comments mean so much, you will never know.

Thank you!

Mary

A Few Bargain Buys and I'm Moving!!!

Hi All!  Boy, have I been a busy gal lately!  First and foremost, I have an announcement that requires a bit of effort from you.  After much thought, I have decided to start a new blog under the name of The Decorative Dreamer.  My efforts to switch this one over would require either purchasing a new domain name or changing it myself which would shut this one down.  I have decided to leave this one up to direct traffic over to my other blog and quite possibly continue to use this one to share more of my sailing life with you!

   Before you go though, I've got one last decor post to share here.  It's meant to entice you to go over to the new blog after seeing this one, hopefully!

As I said, I've been a busy lady!  I went out and about and spent some of that Christmas cash that was burning a whole in my hand.  At least that's what the Mr. always tells me.  LOL!  One of my stops yesterday was Michaels.  I have so many decorating ideas still, I just had to go there.

Here's the stash!  This is what a little over $20.00 will buy you, well almost all of it, keep reading, to see more.

Just when I thought I was finished with the Christmas decor I couldn't pass up these markdowns.  I looked at these large candle rings this year but held off, now I'm so glad I did. 

The two of these alone don't hold much weight, but...

...combined together they are quite thick and lush.  Not bad for a few bucks each at 80% off.

I also purchased a few more smaller rings at 80% off too.  Each of these items was about $1.00 and some change.

These items were also 80% off and a few bucks each or $1.00 and change.  This is what I went in the store looking for.  I plan to use these soon.  Stay tuned for that over at The Decorative Dreamer later this week.

This was also 80% off and I just couldn't help getting them, this purchase lead to a whole other store for more items to coordinate with this.  You'll have to watch for these coming up soon on The Decorative Dreamer too!

And finally from Michaels, I also got these.  They were also 80% off and again only $1.00 and some change or close to $2.00 each for the larger trees.

They are pink!  I cannot wait to use these soon for a special post that will be coming up in the future on The Decorative Dreamer.

I also stopped by one of my favorite thrift stores and found a few more bargains.

This very solid and heavy weight milk glass vase was only .50 cents.  What a deal!  It's fairly big too.  Would you believe I do not own a milk glass vase?  Well, I do now!

This dish I spotted the minute I walked in the door.  It was only $3.50.

Ha!  Fooled you! It came with the top too!  I just fell in love with the shape, color and size of this piece.  It is a handmade ceramic piece that is signed and dated 1967 on the bottom.  Whoever made it did an excellent job.  There are no chips scrapes or anything.  All I need to do is wash it.

  

Isn't it just fabulous?  I think so!

Now for the best deal I have gotten in quite some time you are going to have to go on over to

The Decorative Dreamer now!  You will NOT want to miss that post. 

I know I am shamelessly advertising this change but I would really like you to follow me on over to new blog.  I would be ever so grateful!!!!

I don't want to loose anyone at all, and this is the best way for me to make a change that I have really wanted to make.  Don't worry I will have to refollow each of you too for you to show up on that blog roll too.  So, it's quite a bit of work for me too.

UPDATE

Turns out I don't have to refollow all of you.  Since creating a new blog I now have two blogs on my dashboard and everyone I was already following is still on my blog roll.  It is one and the same.  Yay!  But you still need to follow me for me to come up on your lists.  Thanks!

 

I thank everyone of you for your friendships and your comments always mean so much!

Be sure and check out many more great finds at

A few of My Favorite Things

Junkin Finds Friday

Now come on over and FOLLOW ME at

The Decorative Dreamer.

Mary