Storage solutions or issues?

Hi Everyone!  What a beautiful day for a party, wouldn't you say?  I surely would.  I am attending a very special online party at The Tablescapers today.  It's called, the Where Do You Keep It All Party.  It's fun to attend a few special parties every now and then and I'm happy I was able to make this one.

My storage issue is not nearly as massive as some of the other table scapers but then again I've only been tablescaping for about a year now.  I have collected a few dishes over the years and when you add all the new pieces I've acquired it really has taken some create shuffling.  Here's a peek into my cabinets and cupboards to see how I currently store it all.

In our kitchen we have a built in china cabinet.  I am sooo glad we do!

This is where I store a good bit of my dishes.

Above the dishes I store candle holders and some silver on the very top.

Underneath is where I store extra flatware and other serving pieces.

It's kinda  messy, glad there are solid door down below.

Vases and compotes. Did I say that correctly? 

More cabinets hold more dishes...

...and a lot of drink ware.

I did say a lot of drinkware didn't I?  This is really become one of my biggest storage issues.  It is not easy to carefully store so much glassware.

The special decorative small linens drawer.

A napkins drawer.

More drawers to hold candle holders,

and small candles.

 

I have even more candles and decorative paper napkins in the pantry.

Above the refrigerator are a few more serving pieces.

I know, what a mess right? 

For a more decorative look I added this desk in my kitchen this year to hold additional small plates.

Love this!

Another more decorative idea was to add this stand to hold napkins in my dining room.  I really love this and would like to add a second one to balance out the room on the other side.

This cabinet holds quite a bit more of the tablescaping necessities.

Like multiple napkin rings and silver serving pieces.

Decorative serve ware.  Please pardon the wall sconces. I moved furniture around and took them off the wall and now I need to put them back on the wall. 

More messy looking cabinets with pieces stacked one on top of another.

Last year I added a new to me china cabinet.

On the bottom shelves I have a few more serving pieces and extra china.  This cabinet is limited on storage due to the size and shape of the shelves.

But I am happy with the way it displays my newest china.

I know you've seen quite a bit and are thinking I have to be through already but hang in there!   I've got just a few more spaces to share.  This is where I had to get a little creative.

Finding space wherever you can is a must.  In our extra bathroom upstairs was this great big storage cabinet.

It now holds extra blankets, table cloths, runners and sheets.  Pretty odd huh?

And our antique secretary now in the den, continues to hold my crystal.

Whew!  Looks like it needs a little dusting! 

Well, that's where I've piled everything so far.  Good news is I still have plenty of space in the basement that I could use should I ever need too.  LOL!  Just kidding!

At least I hope I am!

Thanks for joining me on this very clutter revealing tour.  It takes a lot of stuff to create tablescapes.  Be forewarned creative tablescaping also requires creative storage solutions or issues?

Have a blessed Sunday everyone!

Mary

Outdoor summer scape #2

Well, let's try this again!  Last week I created my first outdoor table scape of the season.  You can go and check it out here.  I posted it before I linked up to Tablescape Thursday then low and behold lost my ability to log back in to blogger for several days.  So that one did not ever make the party.  I am hoping I can get this one in quickly.  Who knows what's going to happen next?

This table scape was quite fun because I've been slowly putting it together without intentionally looking for the pieces.  I just kept coming across things here and there that seemed to coordinate.  I've heard that Dianne over at The Thrifty Groove has a thrifty table scape challenge monthly party going on.  I hope this will qualify.  I'll let you be the judge.

My table scape is based on blue,brown and cream color combinations.

I started with this runner that I made specifically to go on this table on my screen porch.  I purchased this fabric from Hobby Lobby from the clearance bin.  I paid around $1.00 something a yard maybe for this, can't remember exactly.  It's indoor outdoor fabric and I also made pillows to go on some other chairs I have on the porch. 

I came across these melamine plates at Hamricks of all places.  They were 75% off and about $2.50 for a set of 4.  Not bad.  I thought they were going to be a perfect match to my runner and was a bit disappointed that the blue green on them is somewhat off.  I still like them though, and am very happy to have found them.

Cute little polka dots on the side!

The napkins are cream colored given to me recently from my Mom.  Free!

The wooden napkin rings were about .50 cents for a package of 10 from a yard sale.  I had intended to paint them assorted colors but have not done so yet.

My stainless was free too.  It's my wedding pattern, Louisiana from Oneida.

The glassware is free as well.  It was my grandmothers on my mothers side.  I just love the way the gold has turned to a coppery brown color after so many years.   I treasure these!

  

My centerpiece is a basket of wine carafes turned into vases.  I purchased this set from our church rummage sale for $2.00.  It was a natural color but I spray painted it white.

They hydrangeas are from my backyard.   I love the mixed shades of them!

Cute little cream colored birdie from DT.  $1.00.

Ooops!  Almost forgot to show you these little salt and pepper birdies.  They were purchased from Cracker Barrel just recently. They were on clearance and were about .50cents each.  They are so small and sweet.  I really should have bought quite a bit more.

Well there you go!  Not to bad for thrifty huh? 

I gotta go now, it's almost time for lunch!  When are you getting here?

Thanks for joining me today!

I am linking this post to the following parties

Tablescape Thursday

Thrifty Tablescape Party

Please be sure and check out the links above for more.

I will also be attending one more special summer party this Sunday at the Tablescaper.  It's about where do you put it all.  So if your interested in seeing where I and all the other tablescapers keep our loot please be sure and come back and join us for that party too!

Have a great day and weekend!

Mary

One Step at a Time

Hey friends!  How did you like my rant yesterday?  Boy, I was so angry with blogger!  Your lucky I didn't type the words that were running rampant through my brain yesterday.  It's very frustrating to have to wait so long for website corrections and to rely on the kindness of other bloggers to offer solutions that may or may not help.  I was so angry!  Not just for me the leisure blogger, but what about all those who rely on the income of their blogs?  I do not deal well with those who avoid obvious issues.   A simple acknowledgement ASAP goes a long way in the online world.  It appears there was finally a report issued yesterday under Blogger status, sure wish this had come out a bit sooner.  (Tsk-tsk!)

Finally, this afternoon one of my favorite bloggers, Rhonda at Shellbelle's Tiki Hut threw me a lifesaver!

Well she didnt' actually throw me a lifesaver, lol, but she did offer up a real tangible plan of action for all of us. 

 You should check out her post here and see if this will help you too if you are also having problems.  I did all that she suggested, cleared my cache, changed the comments on my blog and unclicked the "always signed in" on the google box. I did not switch browsers as I am not convinced yet, that is the solution or necessarily the best option.  So all I have to say about this for now is...we will see!

But, it's a step..thank you!

 This morning I was on my way home from the bank when I approached something rather large in the road and had to swerve way over to avoid it.  It was a great BIG giant turtle crossing the road.  It was way to big to even go under the car.  Seriously!  It made me smile and I rushed home to get the camera.  I thought for sure it would be there when I got back because it was going so very slow.  Guess what?  When I got back, the turtle was gone...no where in sight, just like that!   Now how does that happen?  I'm not exactly sure, but knew there was a lesson here to be learned somewhere.

This is my newest piece of equipment.  How do you like it?  I got this last week from a thrift store when I nearly stumbled right over it looking at everything all around it.  Funny how exercise equipment can be like that...so unnoticeable. 

 It works like a charm and was a fantastic deal!  The Mr. had to go pick it up for me later because we had to bring it home with the trailer.  It is just a tad bigger in this room then my Nordic Track ski machine was.  That was sarcasm my friends!

  I had my first workout with it by helping my husband bring it up the stairs to put in this bedroom.  Man, this thing is heaaavyy!  LOL!

  Since then, I have done two other workout sessions on it and will be doing one later again today.  I am really hoping this will be a step in the right direction with the battle of the bulge.

Speaking of battling the bulge, I would also like to give a shout out for another blog friend whom I am linking this post up with today.

Let me tell you about someone who is hosting a party very similar to my Wellness Wednesday's right now.   Pam over at From My Front Porch to Yours is hosting a Wednesday Weigh In Party.

  I would like for all of you who may be interested in supporting each other in our weight loss efforts to consider this party.  I have pulled back from the linky party scene for the most part, but feel like this is one I could really use right now.  Please help me in spreading the word about this one, and consider joining us with a post about anything you are doing to manage your weight.   I don't think you have to actually list your weight, I sure didn't!   You may want to ask Pam about the rules though, since I am prone to not following any.  LOL!   Come on! What have you got to loose, maybe a few pounds?

Now back to the turtle and lessons learned.  Did you figure it out yet?  Really?  Oh come on, do I have to spell it out for you?  Okay, I will!  He crossed the road!  That's it!  That was the lesson learned.  He may have been moving slower then molasses, or slower then blogger (hehehe), or slower then everyone else thinks he should..but he crossed that road!  He made it!  Even with all that extra weight he was carrying around, he kept going.  Step by step, before you realized it, he was gone and I was left with only a memory.

Thank you Mr. Turtle for crossing my path today!  I sure wish I had your picture to share today, but then ,we might have all missed the lesson. 

 Taking each day step by step is challenging for those like me who prefer things to happen quickly.  I am prone to fits of frustration, anger and discouragement as are most of us.  God, is so not through with me yet!  But I do bounce back easily after a good hissy fit and am thankful for the friends in my life who don't try to tell me how to feel but offer up shoulders and solutions, one step at a time!

Thank you all for joining me again today

 for my Wellness Wednesday Post.

Mary

I give up!!!

I am thinking my days are truly being numbered as a blogger.   So many more troubles again!  I've commented on blogs left and right today and they are not going through to most of you.  Yes, I have been checking.    I still can't sign on as usual and visits to my blog are waaay down, though now I can atleast can sign on and create a post again.  I am not ignoring you but feel like I am being blocked apparently.   It's very frustrating and I'm thinking why waste so much energy on this!  It's not like I have a huge list of followers anyway.  It's like blogger has it out for me and is being very selective in who is or is not having issues.  It's all just been feeling way to cliquish for me... Just saying! 

Those of you whom I've made connections with (you know who you are) I really enjoy communicating with but it's getting harder and harder to do so.   I didn't store all your personal emails, though maybe I should have.   I'd prefer to communicate with you through and visiting your beautiful blogs rather then all the behind the scences chitter chatter, but now have no way to tell you how much I enjoyed your post.  I guess I failed in that too.  So, all that being said, this is where I'm standing on the matter.  Good grief!!!

I'm really starting to feel so over this!
Mary

Have you Recuperated Yet?

From all the celebrating this weekend I mean!  I sure have.  Ha ha!   In fact, I really didn't have much recooping to do since I didn't have much going on.  I am sure I've mentioned to you before my husband is on one of his regularly scheduled outages which means work,work,work and then some.  Whew! 

 Good news is, we are getting closer to the end and I will have my hubby back.  He was getting Saturdays off until the last past two weekends. 

He should be able to get off early, around 2:00ish the rest of this week and then back to his regular hours.  He usually works 4 tens which gives us long weekends often, so this no weekends business has been tough.   We have something special planned for next week.   I will tell you about that later though.  Also my youngest has 3 more half days of school this week too.  Finally, it's starting to feel like summer time!  Woohoo!

So, what's a gal to do with too much time on her hands and no one around to share it with?  Let me show ya!

Projects for one, of course!  I found a set of these cute shutters at my favorite consignment store and decided to spray paint them this fantastic turquoise blue.

My intentions were to use these for jewelry displays rather then the other cute shutter sign I showed you a few weeks back.  I like a solid color background for displaying jewelry so this will work better.   That is, if I don't find another place for them that I'd rather use them.  LOL!

I don't think I showed you this yet either, did I?  I rearranged the furniture on the back screened porch again. 

 I moved the cozy chairs over here in front off one of the double doors so now they face the backyard.   When you sit here, you are looking into the yard instead of the side yard from where they were.   I love this view much better! 

I pulled one of my old wicker chairs from upstairs and put it down here too.  It's coming up for a project next. Stay tuned for that reveal soon!

And just in case you are wondering, no I didn't get rid of the table.  I just moved it over where the chairs used to be.  I like it over here so much better because it is under the candle chandelier now.   Sorry, you can't see that in this photo but it's hanging right above the table.   My porch feels so much bigger without my hammock on here.  I am really enjoying it this year, though I do miss the hammock.  We are going to create a very special spot for it soon outside.

Speaking of projects, here's a few more I worked on this weekend.  I also got out the white spray paint.  I finally went ahead and changed this basket.  I love it! I just did a light coat of white and love how it has a weathered look.  I decided not to do a glaze on this for now, because it looks fine without to me.

I also changed my cross in the dining room.  It used to be silver if you remember.  I spray painted it white, then sanded it some and then added a chocolate brown glaze.

I love how my cross shows up so much more on my blue green walls now then the silver did.  It really stands out but is so soft looking!

 Do you remember when I found this last year at Goodwill and decided to make it into a cloche base?  It was a very pretty mixture of golds and I enjoyed that look quite a bit last year.

But that was last year, and this is a new year!  I spray painted it white also, and added a chocolate glaze.  I love how the details really pop now!

I've done several other changes around the house but will save those to show you later.  I don't want to overload you with too much in one day and may need those later for when I got nothing else to show!  Ha ha!

Before I go, I did want to show you this.  I've been looking everywhere for a new purse for the season and couldn't quite find what I wanted, until recently.  I saw these a few weeks ago at Stein Mart and just fell in love with them.

  I really wanted a sling type bag with only one handle for simplicity.   I waited until this weekend and went back yesterday and bought it when they were on sale.  I haven't bought one of these styles in years, have you?

  

I love how this one has an updated look with the beads, stones and blingy things!

Fun! Fun!

So that's what all I got for my

Take a Look Tuesday.

Thanks for dropping by today. I hope you all had a wonderful Memorials day weekend.

I'd love to hear from ya!

Mary

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13

  Have you ever imagined just how many may have genuinely experienced the fullest measure of this verse in their lives? 

The sacrifice made by a soldier who dies in combat is quite extraordinary and certainly deserves our most memorable honor.  I am most thankful that we live in a country that recognizes the sanctity of this heroic action.  For they have given their lives so that we may have the gift of freedom in the U.S.

  Many of us will not have to die for another, but in this verse we are also encouraged to practice sacrificial love.  There are times when we will fall short, as I so often do, but we are reminded here to continue looking for ways to share Jesus's love with others.

  The ultimate sacrifice has already been made for us by Jesus, whom we can call our friend.  For he gave his life for us, that we may have the gift of eternal freedom.  He did this because, His love for you was that great!

Thank you for

Sharing Jesus Sunday

with me.

I hope you will all have a very

  Happy Memorial Day!

Mary