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

New Years Day Dinner

Our New Years didn't come in with a bang, it came in rather peacefully actually.  It was a very busy day with taking down all the Christmas trees and lights outside then all the clean up.  Despite all the hard work, we even managed to enjoy our annual New Years dinner of Hopping John and Collards. 

Being Southern, this is a dish that I have been accustomed to having on New Years day for eva! 

 There are many legends surrounding the choice of these foods in particular.  Basically it is the black eyed peas that are so lucky.  There are legends about the black eyed peas that go back as far as the war between the North and South and the availability of these foods to the confederate soldiers.   There are legends regarding the availability of these foods to the slaves surrounding the time of the emancipation.  I really don't have any big concerns about knowing exactly where it all started, I just know why I should eat these foods so I do.

 

The black eyed peas are key, they are supposed to be lucky!  Eaten on New Years day they will bring you luck and prosperity.  Prosperity because they resemble coins, the more coins you eat on the first day of the new year the more coins you will receive that year as well.  Hopping John is a mixture of black eyed peas, sausages, ham hocks, and spices served over rice.  It is a southern dish that is native to South Carolina from the low country.   There are many legends surrounding how this dish got it's name as well as the tradition of eating this dish on new years day.  We eat it because apart from tradition I actually like it.  There are many variations to making Hoppin John which makes it so appealing to me, since you basically can come up with your own version after using the essential ingredients. I have my own version that I make in a crock pot, that simmers all day.  Then, it is very easily served over rice in the evening.  Perfect for a busy New Years day, wouldn't you say!

Somewhere along the same lines the legend also goes that collards will bring prosperity and good health as well.  Collards eaten on new years day represent, folded money, or green money..dollar bills!  Good health because, let's face it, collards are really good for you even if they do preform quite a number on your digestive system.  LOL!  I am not a fan of collards!  I have in years past substituted spinach for this part of the legend on New Years day.  However, after a year of not having a job and any personal income I decided I would suck it up and eat my collards this year.  How bad can it be?

I set the table very simply this year since it was just the three of us for dinner.  It was actually very nice to have a simple stress free dinner on this day too.

As you can see, I pulled out the Franciscan Ivy again.  I find I am using this more and more as our everyday china.

No big glitzy setting here, just simple homegood elegance.

Hey, maybe since I used this china on New Years day it will mean my garden will grow abundantly this year too! 

My centerpiece is very simple here also.

In case your wondering, I chose this centerpiece because it's functional.  My casserole dish doesn't just look good there on the lazy susan.

I actually filled it with the collards.  I knew some of us would not be eating these, so they were optional for the bravest of the three of us.

Here's my sons dish, he didn't go for the collards.  Too bad for him!

Here's my dish.  Now hold on there, I know what your thinking, I ate some collards too...

See!  I chose to put mine in the little fruit bowls, on the side.  I didn't want those collards touching my Hoppin John you know!

Yum!  It really was delicious, and I feel so much more relieved to have insured my prosperity for one more year!  :)))

I hope you'll stop by Tablescape Thursday to see many more ways ways you really could set a beautiful table.

Thanks for visiting Today!  I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

Do you have any New Years day traditions?  I would love to hear them, drop me a note.

Happy New Year Friends!

Mary

Clearing the Tabletops!

Since our dear friend Marty said anything goes today for Tabletop Tuesday I've decided to show you my after holiday peculiarity.  First off, you need to know I totally love Christmas and everything about it!  I love all the festive decorating and really enjoy pulling out all my Santa's and all the other whimsical and glittery decor associated with the season.  However, when I put out quite a bit as I did this year it really does begin to overwhelm me and I'm often ready to break it down very soon after the holidays.

But...we have a tradition in our house to leave the tree up until new years.  It took me several years to realize that just because I didn't want the tree to come down didn't mean I wasn't ready for everything else to be put up.  So as I promised to reveal to you, here is my quirky holiday peculiarity.   I take things down in stages!  Yes, I am a bit of a procrastinator.  I break it all down a little at a time.  Today I removed a good bit of the holiday decor.  Gone are all the Santa's, the bows, balls, and greenery.  Now I can sit back and enjoy the holidays for a bit more without feeling the red and green overload. 

The den feels so much larger now.  Whew!  I can see my mantle again too!  I love it!

I moved this secretary that we had in the dining room awhile back in the den now.  It had been in the Mr.'s office after we got the new china hutch but I've changed my mind and moved back here in the den instead.  I really wanted to store my crystal back in here again so I'll have more room in the china cabinet for china.

Off came the red and green ribbons and away went all the Christmas balls and gingerbread men on this tray.  In it's place remains a simple candle arrangement with my country duck basket to hold all the remotes.  The Mr. sure loves this arrangement!

The kitchen is no longer a candy wonderland but still has just a few holiday touches.

My side table no longer reminds me of the Night Before Christmas, instead it holds a few of my newest holiday gifts.

In the dining room all the extra holiday dishes and serve ware are packed away along with all the glittery balls and greenery hanging everywhere.

A simple silver tray holds plenty of left over candy..any takers?

I feel so much more relaxed now, and ready to face tomorrows adventures, returns and after holiday sales!

That's how I roll y'all, how about you?  How do you break it all down.  Do you drag it out like me or do you take it all down quickly in one swoop?

I know I am a bit late today but I'm linking to Metamorphosis Monday also.  This is one change I always look forward to every year.

Don't you?

Mary