So what are you reading?

When was the last time you cracked open a book?

 You know... a real book, with a cover and everything.  I will be the first to admit I go through stages with reading.  I usually read several books a year at the very least.  Some years are full of reading, some not so much.  I think this is going to be a very good reading year.  I have found it helps me to settle down at night when I need to turn in early or if I've awakened in the middle of the night unable to sleep.  For me there is nothing more soothing and mind distracting from my own thoughts then to fall deeply into the plot of a novel.  Recently, I couldn't resist plundering through a huge clearance box of books at the grocery store of all places and pulled out this.

After just a few weeks of sporadic reading bouts I am almost finished with this book.   I bought it new for less then $3.00 and I've really enjoyed it quite a bit. The story is kind of a mix of romance fiction, (not the Harlequin kind) but also based on factual characters in History.  Somehow it's spurred me on to wanting to learn more about History again.  I was not a fan of History in school but this book makes me want to learn a bit more.  I also want to read some of this authors other books too.  Very enjoyable!

Today I made another little side trip after work and came home with this....

Yep!  That's a big old bag of books plunked down right where I hang my purse every night.  Can you guess why I would come home with such a big ole bag of books?  I'll give you a hint.  It's not because I am so overworked and need something to calm me down each night.  Though that would certainly not be too far fetched to guess.  LOL!   I'll give you a little time to think about it, okay?.  Meanwhile, let's take a look at what all I got.

While I would love to be able to walk into the book store and buy whatever I'd like at full price, I confess, I just cannot afford to do that.  Besides, my frugal side would be screaming at me anyway about why I didn't just go to the library.  However, if you can walk into a book store and buy new and used library books so cheap that your frugal side doesn't rare it's ugly head, you'd tend to go for it right?  I certainly do!  

As you can see, my tastes runs the gamut when it comes to fictional novels.  I enjoy reading everything, spanning from books on Palm Beach living, to mystery, to books about life on the plantations.

I especially love this lady's work.  She has written several time travel romance novels.  They are fantastic (get it?) and are really fun to read!

I'm hoping this one will also indulge my fantasy world even more.  I love thinking about unexplained mysterious things!  I don't dwell on them seriously, but do so enjoy the retreat into a world of fantasy and what if's.

But this one is "the one" that I am anxiously waiting to dive right in to.  I have read almost all of her books again just last summer.  I don't think I read this one though.  I certainly hope not anyway!  Do you ever forget what books you've read only to discover you've already read them after the first chapter.  I have!  LOL!    I would have loved to have bought her newest book entitled, Porch Living, but it's still too new and not anywhere near this price range yet.  

Have you guessed yet why I am stocking up on books?

There is nothing like a good book for a great escape wherever you may be. (Hint-Hint!)

Do you need one yet, an escape?

Do you have one planned?

I sure do!

So what are you reading these days?

What genre do you enjoy reading and why?

Which authors do you like?

Share your favorites please, I'd love to check out a few new authors this summer.

Thanks for dropping by!

Have a great day!

Too Little Color?

Seriously?  That's what I was thinking too!  Recently I was called out for having too little color in one of my displays.  Unfortunately I guess "they" failed to realize that was the look I was going for.  Let me just say in my defense most of the objects I was using were also of the neutral family so I went with it.  Hey, I know many of you would have done the same.  I guess the neutral look just has not reached many main steam retail stores as of yet.  And, while I am not a big fan of it in my house there are areas where I love it!  In fact I loved one of the items I was creating my neutral display with at work so much that I decided it was just going to have to come home with me to be fully appreciated.

Welcome home my new very LARGE lantern!  I have found just the perfect spot for you!

I have even decided to keep a neutral vignette going inside of you (for a bit) in honor of your well deserved escape from retail land.  Don't you think this lantern just screams neutral decor?  

Especially with it's grey tin roof...

...And pale greyish whitewashed wood.  Well, I certainly do!  But you ladies know I am not one to stay very neutral for long so enjoy it while it lasts okay?

I've set a little vignette here that speaks volumes about where my heart is right now.  I can hardly wait!  It won't be long now!

I am sure this little corner of the den is going to see lots of change with my newest addition.  It's going to be so fun changing this lantern out.  The Mr. said that is no lantern dear it is a BIG glass box.  LOL!  Oh well, if you haven't seen these this size then hop on over to your nearest Stein Mart.  We have lanterns in all shapes and sizes right now at some really great prices too.

I am joining Marty today over for her vignette linky party for

Tablescape Tuesday. 

Please follow the link to see more beautiful decor.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Have a great day!

Dreaming with Mood Boards

Hey Friends!  Things sure have been quite the whirlwind of activity around here lately.  I've not had much time to blog or keep up much at all lately.  My youngest son graduated from high school last week.  Woohoo!  Between getting ready for that, college preps, work, boating and preparing for  our upcoming vacation let's just say I am scattering my attentions everywhere lately.  I hope to get back to blogging soon as I've got quite a bit I want to share with you.


But before I get back to m usual blogging style I want to share something with you I found online.  I'm sure plenty of you probably already know about Olioboards.com but I just discovered them today.  It's where you can create your own mood boards.  You can also share them with other followers too.  I found Olioboards online before work this morning, created an account and then created my very first board after I came home from work.  This was so much fun!  I think it could be so addictive too.  Whew, like I really need another online addiction!  Seeeriousssslyy!!!   I've got  so much to learn about it yet but just couldn't wait to show you my first board.  So with further ado....

This is what I would love to incorporate into my bedroom if I were to have the means to make it all possible.  It really was so much fun creating this look which I think is very close to my own personal style indeed. I hope you enjoyed a little peek into my dreams here today!


Thanks for stopping by...
I'll be catching up with you soon!

Let's get Nautical!

Nautical! I wanna get nautical! Let's get into nautical! I think that's the way Olivia Newton John should have sung that song.  Really yall!

With the Memorial day weekend fast approaching I am thinking of all things nautical.  I am pretty sure I will be working Monday but am hoping for Sunday off.  The Mr. and I enjoyed a wonderful weekend of sailing this past weekend and hope to be able to do more again soon.  While we were out we talked about getting our new grill installed on the boat so we can do more grilling out on the water.  Please feel free to send me all your delicious shiskabob recipes ladies, as I am craving those to kick off the season!

With that in mind I decided to gather up a few of my nautical inspired serve ware pieces to create a display for the screened porch.  This will also keep everything handy in case I want to grab a few serving pieces as I head out the door.

Here's how it all stacked up!

I started over here on the blue table and brought out my plaid runner to work off of.

It sorta has a bit of a nautical flair, right?  Okay,  well, not sure why I brought this out really but there it is.

Next I decided to use the old wine crate that I keep on the porch and have been trying to decide how to decorate.

Then I very carefully (Hehe!) draped one of my patriotic dishcloths inside.

The first thing in was my chip and dip set that I purchased last year from CTS for only $5.99.  Love it!  I cannot wait to bring this down to the club.  It's ceramic so I will have to be very careful.  

Next in was my sailboat dip with spreader dish.  To save all of us a lot of time and reading here you should know all of these items came from the CTS. This was only $3.99.  We do not have one here where I live, so I made a special trip down to one in Augusta last year and went wild when I found all of the great deals on the nautical serve ware.  

This sailboat bowl was sold separately for only $1.99. I bet this could hold a boat load of salsa!

Then I collected up this set of three boats to add in my box too.  They were purchased at $4.99 for the whole set.

Oops! These melamine plates are from Walmart this year.  They were on clearance for $1.00 and I could only find 3.  I need one more!

I am pretty sure the napkin holder was only $2.99 and included the napkins as well.

The votive candle holders were only .64 cents a piece.  What a deal!

And my cups were only $1.69 each.  Now here's the real deal!  Those are all the prices I pulled off of them today as I was unpacking them.  I am pretty sure I got an additional amount off on many of these pieces but cannot remember exactly what.  That's how good of a deal it was and so worth the trip.  If you have a CTS near you or withing driving distance you are so lucky.

I had to move the box to it's final resting place before it got to heavy.  I almost forgot to add in the napkins and napkin rings that I made last year too, or was it the year before?  Oh, IDK!  Anywho, there they are before going in the box.

A little blue bottle of something good and I am all set!  Don't worry this is actually empty but I saved it because I liked the color of the bottle and the taste of the wine and wanted to remember the brand.  I was at World Market a few weeks ago and saw a wine with a Sea Glass label that I wish I had bought.  I think it was a Pinot Grigio, but not sure.  Maybe next trip.

And there you have it!  All set and ready for a very nautical day of dining.  Well, kinda, I still need to find a good deal on some red flatware somewhere.

I've set this up on my bakers rack outside.  If it stays here a bit I may have to redo the whole rest of the vignettes on the bakers rack now too.  But I think I'll wait and see how much I pull from here to go on the boat first.  We shall see!

Speaking of seeing and the boat...

Here's a few glimpses of what we enjoyed out on the water last weekend.  

It was very windy all weekend and we were able to get in a few good sails before getting to tired to fight the wind any longer and calling it a day.

I stretched out in the cockpit for a rest to lay down and look what I saw!

Right over our heads above the top of our boat was a beautiful rainbow.  I couldn't help but think that I guess Jesus wanted to remind us he likes going sailing too!  

Thanks for stopping by today.  I really appreciate the visit.  I am joining a few fun linkys today.

Be sure and visit them too at;

Let's Dish

Outdoor Wednesday

Tablescape Thursday

Seasonal Sunday

And just in case you missed it I am gearing up to host a linky party of my own.  Please be sure and check out my latest post HERE to get the scoop.

Have a wonderful day!

By Golly! I think I will!

Did the big blue green paint chip below draw you in?  I bet so!  But....if your thinking I'm going to paint my den this color you'd be wrong.  Gotcha!

The picture above is merely symbolic.  It represents (one) issue I have been struggling with for some time, a new paint color for the den.  I really want a change in my den and have ideas but am still unresolved on a few things.  

If you have stopped by here at all in the last week you may have seen me mention a linky party idea HERE that I had about offering up our decorating dilemmas.  Well, to make a long story short, I'm going to do it.  I'm going to host it!  I am going to put myself out there and take a risk!

Because I'd rather avoid more risks like choosing the wrong color and having to redo it.

Let me also be a bit blunt here, I had very, very little feedback on this and most intelligent people would assume that meant there is no interest in this idea. Maybe, but I think differently!  I still think  and believe whole heartily that this a great idea.    I think there are many of us who would like to get more specific feedback about our decorating issues rather then relying on our own posts and our own immediate group of followers.  Some of us (case in point,like me) don't even have a large group of followers to successfully get the feedback we need.  So a linky party that specifically address's those issues could definitely provide that!

It's no secret that a linky party can grow your blog.  If you are a long time follower you all know how I've had my struggles with linky parties.  I have not decided to host this linky party just to grow my blog but because I truly believe in the concept of the party I want to host.  You should know that hosting a linky party also costs money so it is not something I would enter into lightly.  Although, if this party takes off and helps to grow my blog that's great because that means you who link up your dilemmas will also benefit too, right?

Gotta love Cheez-its!

I am still working full time in retail with hours that change every week.  I work 8 hours a day and sometimes two of those shift are nights as well as weekends.  I tend to have Sundays off and usually one other day during the week.   That extra day off changes each week which is why I am writing this today as I am off.   I am begging for a little advice and help from you. I would love any input from those of you who host a linky party AND anyone reading this who thinks they would participate from time to time.  Remember this party is for us to link up our decorating dilemmas and receive advice from our online decor friends.  Big and Small projects, inside and outside!  

   1. I think this party would be best suited for every other week.  Would you agree?

   2. Which day do you think would be good for this?

   3. What should I be prepared for?  LOL!

   4. Would you like to vote on a name for this party?

   5. Do you think I should create a button?  Any volunteers to do this for me?  Please!

   6. Do you think I am crazy to do this?

   7. Would you be will to help promote this party so that those who attend can get the feedback 

        they are hoping for?  Purrty Please Yall!!!

Well, okay, I stop jabbering away now so you can reply.  I know your out there and I do want to hear from you.  Come on, help out a sista out!

    

Poolside Adventures

Whoever said; "Necessity is the mother of invention", couldn't have spoken truer words then these.

I finally was able to enjoy a beautiful weekend off with beautiful weather to boot.  We sailed on Saturday, just boated around on Sunday and lounged around our new pool off and on all weekend.

The weather was great and so enjoyable.  

With a tropical storm lingering off the coast of Charleston we were experiencing quite a bit of wind gusts on Saturday even here in the middle of the state.  I brought out my newest pool side purchase rather quickly after struggling with the towel a few times.

Aren't they cute?  They are called Boca clips.  They come in an assortment of designs too.

I purchased these as a set of two for only $5.00 from the big W.  So worth it ladies!  Who ever invented this simple little convenience is my hero!

Then after burning my arms a few times on the HOT metal arm rails I decided to invent a little more convenience of my own.

I pulled out my never ending roll of tulle because I think it's pretty water proof.

And then retrieved two of these microfiber dishtowels that I cannot stand to use anywhere because they feel horrible on my fingertips and everything clings to them.  LOL!  They are sold at the dollar tree and I've seen them in several different bright colors which would be neat.  I used these because I had them on hand and they were the perfect size, bigger then a wash cloth and super absorbent.

Okay, so maybe not the cutest thing ever but not bad and I was loving it. No more burned arms!

Speaking of necessity's, here is another makeshift option that I am well pleased with.  Remember my little tomato plants.  Well I needed a trellis for them to grow on but did not want to use the standard round ones because I wanted something more decorative.  Since I already had this I stuck it in a big pot and planted the tomatoes around the outside.

Look how well they are growing!  It won't be long now!

Thanks for stopping by for a few outdoor tips poolside.

I am joining BNOTP for

Metamorphosis Monday

to share a few of my own discoveries.

Have a great day!