Terrific Turquoise!

Hello!  My name is Mary, so nice to meet you!  What's that?  Oh yes, silly me, this is a blogger party isn't it.  So, let me reintroduce myself...my name is The Decorative Dreamer!  Yes mam, that means I am always dreaming about something decorative.  Doesn't mean I am the most creative or decorative blogger around though by any stretch of the imagination, it just means I spend a lot of time dreaming about it.  LOL!

 I am very happy to be attending a paint party today over at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing.  I am excited I've been able to attend several of these fun summer linky parties so far as they are much more my speed.  Sorry ladies, I just can't keep up with the weekly ones anymore.   However, I always enjoy a good party every now and then, and when one of my favorite bloggers throws one you better believe this old gal makes every attempt to attend.  Though I do have to admit that my favorite bloggers party's are usually very easy to attend since their parties are centered around themes I'm already involved in. 


 This party at Debbiedoo's is also being linked with a whole weeks worth of parties and hosts for a Summer Block Party hosted by At The Picket Fence.  Be sure and check out the link on my sidebar for many more daily parties and inspirational themes.

Well, when our sweet host announced she was having a paint party I was not a bit surprised.  She loves painting, more painting and then repainting,  She loves color and is a great inspiration to all those who follow her.  One of the things I love about Debbie's painting is she is not afraid to paint anything!  I love how she can look at the most ordinary object and offer up ideas on painting it.  While blabbing about her upcoming party she kindly offered up a few extra inspirational ideas on what to paint.  I just love that she does stuff like that!  She had so many fun ideas, even ideas like painting a rock from your yard!

Like I told her, Hey, " I gotta a rock!"

Boy, do I have a few rocks!  I even live just outside of a town called White Rock.  Let me tell you this, it ain't called white rock for nothing!

Check out this big beautiful white rock!  Now that's literally one big beautiful rock!  But sorry to disappoint you, I am not going to paint these rocks.  I like these just the way they are.  I do have a few ideas on painting a rock now though as soon as I find the perfect rock that I want to paint.  You see, that's what it's all about for me, inspiration.  I get that so much from blogging with you all.  I'm not as quick as most of you and I tend to hold on to an idea for some time before I move on it..it's the whole dreaming thing, ya know!  But eventually I do indeed make my way around to a few things.

Like I said, attending a party for me these days is all about what I'm already involved in and I did already have yet another paint project I was working on.  Recently I showed you the completion of one.

Do you remember I showed you these shutters that I spay painted blue?

Now that was a job, because you have to open and close the shutters and wait in between coats to dry in order to get every angle covered.  But, I got them finished and love them!  They didn't stay here though, I've moved them and have put them somewhere else but you will have to come back later this week to see where.  Now I really loved this color so much that I had to move on to something else with it too!

And I certainly did!  This old wicker chair used to be black.  Talk about another tedious paint job.  It takes lot's of patience to paint wicker too.  There's so many angles you have to spray from to get complete coverage.  My poor little finger!  

I was one step away from getting rid of them but decided to bring a little more life back to them with some color.  I say them because I have a whole set, though haven't painted everything as of yet.  

Since I moved this chair back here on our back porch I painted it blue to coordinate with the other blues that I have back here.  I already had this cushion which I was using on this chair though may redo this soon.

Here it is adding my most recent pillows that I made for this porch.  It's a nice calming look of blues.

Very subtle and relaxing, don't cha think?

But look what happens when I bring out these older pillows I made!  

Wow!  What a gorgeous pop of color!  Now I'm really liking this.  I've got more of this fabric around somewhere too!  OMG! I feel more back porch changes coming.  LOL!  This is some serious summer color fun here!  

I love this color!  It is Satin Lagoon from Rust-oleum.  It is a much deeper turquoise blue!  It took me two of these cans to cover the wicker chair completely, though I did think these cans really did go along way.

I have also used this color quite a bit too.  I just love it as well!  It is Bahama Sea by Krylon.  It is a much lighter turquoise then the other but still a beautiful shade.  

I am enjoying using the combination of them both on my screened porch this year.

It was so nice to meet you and talk with you a bit.

I'd love to visit with you again, anytime!

Sorry, but I've got to run now!

Toodles!

Mary

Bargain Beauties

Whoever said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", couldn't have been more true!  If you don't agree just think about all those times you've dragged home something to refurbish and your Mr. has looked at you like you were insane.  We thrifty bloggers certainly know a deal when we find one, even if others just cannot see it.

I don't think that was the case yesterday though.  I think I found a few deals  that the beauty was very easy to recognize!  Let's see what you think.

One of our local Lowe's seems to be really quick about clearancing out their annuals.  I think it might be because this one get's in so many that they mark them down in order to move them more quickly.  Whatever the reason I am very glad they do.  I picked up this little beauty for only $3.00.  It certainly adds a nice pop of color to this little vignette by the door.  For some reason I've been struggling for inspiration here.

I was especially excited to find these markdown.  Vinca is very necessary for long lasting blooms here in the south.  I was about to buy another color at full price before I found these.

They were marked down to $1.00 each for a six pack.  I got 8 of these total.

This beautiful purple plant is a called a Serena and likes full sun too.  It was marked down to $1.74.

And this gorgeous lime green potatoe vine was not marked down unfortunately it was $3.56.  This is what I went out looking for in particular.  Why?  Because I finally completed a project that I started last summer.

Do you remember when I bought the pretty wrought iron deck planter but couldn't find a second one?   Guess what?  I never did find a match.

But lucky me, I did find two other matching iron planters at a yard sale about a month ago.  

I was so excited and even more pleased when the lady said they were only $2.00 each.  

I was very pleased with how they looked and they are expandable too.  So after adding cocoa liners, potting soil and a few beautiful plants my project is done!

And, I couldn't be more pleased!

I think my cat, Patch likes the pretty new look too! 

I was thrilled to see that not only does the basket adjust sizes, but the brackets that attach to the hand rail were adjustable also.  This was great because our handrails are large vinyl coated plastic and I did not want to drill into them so needed something to wrap around them.  I was able to adjust the bracket to snuggly wrap the rail then use ties to secure the ends of the bracket to the basket.   They are quite secure now too!     

I really wanted to have this beautiful green potato vine hanging from my baskets.  I just love how this looks!

Some projects are so worth waiting for.  We have another project that I've hinted about that we are pursing but it is slow going just to get started.  It's very frustrating for this impatient gal!  I want to fill you in so bad but just cannot do so yet!  Hopefully soon!

I even had enough of the vinca left over to replace the flower in these baskets that I have hanging on my deck in back.

All the multicolored bargains I originally had in these baskets died while the Mr. and I were out of town.  I forgot to mention to my son to water the plants.  

And here's another peek at the basket project from further out.  Please ignore my dying grass in the front.  It is St.Augustine grass planted by the original owners of this house.  There used to be quite a bit more tree around the front of this house that we cut down and the grass has withered because it is a shade grass.  We will be replacing this soon with Centipede which is much more sun and heat tolerant.  Hopefully we are going to tye that in with our other project.

And I'll leave you with a glimpse of what you see from my front door.  I just love seeing these beautiful baskets now when I walk out.

Thanks for stopping by today!

I just had to share these beauties with you.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Mary

Just Weighin In Here!

How are you today?  Doing well?  I certainly hope so!  I've got just  a few things to share with you for my Wellness Wednesday and for Weigh In Wednesday over at From My Front Porch to Yours.  I hope more of you will join us for this very special support group for better health online.  I am a firm believer in the power of support when it comes to healthier living.  Come on, don't be shy now, let's see what you got! 

Last week I missed the Weigh In party because I was on vacay, looks like our host was at the beach too only she still posted.  "Weigh" to go, Pam! LOL!   I can report that while on vacation I have never felt better.  There is just something about the beach that makes you want to walk, and walk we did.  We stayed in the heart of downtown IOP so we parked the car and moved it only once.  We walked to all our meals and I was very focused on eating good foods, like shrimp and salads for dinner to subs for lunch.   I really did eat great until the baked spaghetti bowl one evening that I just could not resist!  The Mr. and I also walked about 1 hour and 45 minutes one day all the way to the edge of Sullivan's Island.  There is so much to see and enjoy walking along the beautiful homes on the streets and the along the shores there.

After getting home and not having my computer for 3 days I have been even more determined then ever to make a few changes as to how often and much time I spend online.  First thing I knew I had to do was to change the location of my laptop.  My comfy club chair and ottoman by the fireplace is not a great way to spend so much time for my health.  In addition to my arm hurting I am sure having my feet propped up and stretched out in front of me for embarrassingly too much time is just not good.  Also, I've been wondering about the amount of heat on my abs from the laptop resting there.  It just cannot be that good.  When you are sitting so comfortably in a chair it's extremely hard to get up if you don't have too.  This mentality has got to change.  So change started with a new setup for my laptop.  Let's see what I've done.

I decided to give up the desk in my kitchen I was using for small plate storage and move it in the den.

It just barely peeks over the back of the sofa and is now nicely tucked behind.

I can sit here on the computer and still see the TV and be apart of the family which was the purpose of the Mr. getting me a laptop to begin with.

Only, I've set it up now so that I'm not too comfortable, but just comfortable enough to sit down browse a bit and then pop back up out of my chair easily.  I have been hearing more and more about if you spend time working on the computer you should get up and move every 30 minutes to keep your metabolism up.  I really believe this since I personally have seen such a big change in my weight since I have become a stay at home mom early last year.  I used to be on my feet all day in retail and really didn't have many issues with weight gain.  Now I am battling constantly!

Here's the chair I've chosen to use.  I just love how this looks but will be out today to try and find a seat cushion to go on top.  Not just for my comfort but to protect this old chair you know!

I feel like I need to accessorize this desk a little more too.  LOL!

Now let's talk about a few dietary helps.  I'll admit I love food!  I realize I could loose weight alot faster if I were to cut out a lot of things but I just would not be too happy.  Nobody like a cranky Mary!  So, I choose to look for healthier alternatives.  Here's a few things I've been really crazy about lately!

Sun Chips!  I love these things!  Have you tried them lately?  I sure hadn't until several weeks ago.  I am pretty sure I must have had some years ago but did not stick with them.  I am not a big potato chip fan but I am a Cheese It's junkie!  Especially in the summer when we are out on the water and need our salty carbs to keep us going.

Here's the two flavors that I love, French Onion and Garden Salsa.  I've tried the regular and another flavor but didn't like it too much but these two...OMG!!!   If you are a regular potato chip snacker, you have got to try these.  You will love them and they are a healthier alternative.

And for my second healthier alternative to something sugary, you can't beat  fresh pineapple!

I'm not going to get into all the virtues of pineapple, you'll have to google that, but there are many.  I love fresh fruit for a snack any day of the week but do not eat nearly enough.  One thing I have noticed is so many of my favorite fruits are so pricey...but not the pineapple.  It's a great bargain for the amount of fruit you get.

I confess I've neglected this fruit for years because I'm a bit lazy when it comes to working in the kitchen.  I've chosen apples for years because they only require me to rinse and eat where this requires a bit more effort.  LOL!  Are you that way sometimes too?

 If you are, here's a tip.  Set yourself up with a pretty little table scape.  A cutting knife, cutting boards, a cute dish towel for the mess and an adorable bowl and utensil and suddenly I'm very enthusiastic.  Seriously!  Works like a charm everytime.  Ok, so maybe there's a little something wrong with me but whateva, I'm getting there!  We all could use a little help every now and then, right?

Thanks for visiting today!   Don't forget to visit the Weigh In Wednesday party now!

Have a great day!

Mary