Tackling the Unorganized Chaos

Unorganized Chaos!  That's the story of my situation today.  I am by my very birth a person of balance.  I was born a  lucky Libra.  We Libran's must obtain balance whenever possible, it is in our gentic DNA!  LOL!   I really do feel somewhat off kilter when things become out of balance.

 Now, I bet your probably thinking, really, but can chaos be organized?  I'd argue YES!  Take for example Chucky Cheese, Black Friday shopping, and my all time favorite Christmas Morning!  Now that is organized chaos, wouldn't you agree?
In my previous post I mentioned that the pollen has wreaked havoc here.  Well, it also slowed down many projects waiting to be completed.  I have to admit I cannot blame everything on the pollen but it helps.   There are times in life when your TO DO list literally just runs into the next page, that is where I am today.

Let's start with most embarrasing, to be done.  Put up the Easter stuff!  I alluded to doing this last week but of course I started this job but obviously did not complete it.

As you can see I nicely put everything into piles, but have not yet actually put things where they go!

Then there are the ever present rotting bananas!  OMG!  Yes, I am posting these too!

 My family loves bananas but cannot eat them fast enough, before someone is buying yet another new bunch.  No problem, surely Mom will make more banana bread. Yet Again!!!

Well, I finally found some drapes for my den at a price and style I liked.  Of course I ordered 4 pairs of drapes, 1 pair of which came soiled and snagged because the packaging had gotten torn in shipping. 

No problem, it is being replaced with a new one, but I'll have to wait on it's arrival, as well as the rest of the installation.   No one else seems to mind the latter sitting in the den a few days nearly as much as I do. Urgh!

Was hoping to get these barstools painted black until I can find a new pair that I like better.  But I don't dare spray paint with all the pollen we've had outside.  So there they sit, along with the other outdoor coach light that still needs to be done!

And then there is the mulch we purchased Saturday to be spread.  Here it sits because I had to  fill in the wholes from the shrubs we removed first.

  However, I have yet to purchase the new shurbs, but I have mulch!  Yes, this wonderful mulch which has quite an odor and grime that now has to be cleaned out of the back of my cars as well.  Did I mention I still have'nt washed the pollen off my car yet?

  I hope your getting the picture now!

Finally, my most exciting chaos to organize...My Blog!  I spent some time rearranging my side bar Saturday, to get easier access to the things I want to access quickly.  However, this is still a major work in progress.  I have so many ideas on how I want to organize my blog but do not have the knowledge and time to learn all what I need to get there.  I simply want a tab bar under my header to put links to info like so many of you have.   Please help if there is an easy way for me to learn this addition.  Otherwise, I will be fine and eventually muddle my way through the chaos as I usually do, in due time.

So if you haven't guessed already, today I am linking up w/Blue Monday, at , http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/
 because I am feeling quite overwhelmed with all that is left to be done.   Along with usual loads of laundry, general housecleaning and trying to figure our a way to get in some exercise, my unfinished projects have me feeling somewhat blue this morning.

Before you feel too sorry for me though, I had considered posting on my afternoon sailing yesterday.  We had a beautiful day on the water w/clear blue skies, but I'll save that for Wednesday!

And now you know why these projects are stacking up!

Let me know how your week is looking or if you have been here too, I'd love to hear some sound and sage advice for dealing with Unorganized Chaos!

Thanks!

It's 5 O'Clock Friday

Whew!  What a week!  My projects are slow going!  We have been overwhelmed with pollen in our neck of the woods.  It has wreaked havoc with my sinus's and my porches.  After a wonderful cleansing thunderstorm last night and major clean up today I am ready to enjoy a little relaxing wine..no cheese, I'm watching my calories..

How'd you like to join me for a little vino?  I have a standard assortment on hand of nice cheapy house wines.  What can I say other then my bargain shopping extends to my everyday wines as well.

There's Merlot, Chardonney and my favorite Wine Zinfandel, what will it be?

Earlier today my porch was a mess of yellow coated pollen.  After vacuming then mopping and spraying it down it looks like this.

Oh look this is where the pollen went!

Yuck Right!  Well that's actually from my front porch, sorry already threw out the water from the screen porch earlier, but you get the picture.

Well, here's a sneak preview of my porch, still want to do so much more here

Ok, that's all for now, I'm stopping here....

Afterall, it's Friday after 5:00 and I'm beat!

Sailing promises to be good this weekend so I'll see ya next week!

Have a great weekend Everyone!

Coffee Table Vignette

Recently I posted pics of my living room on RMS and received many compliments and suggestions, which I was very grateful for.  While many suggestions were for a new coffee table for my space because of the size, a few bright observers suggested I add more decor to the table.  Typically this is the way my table usually looks..

We are often a feet on the table kind of family and the many single larger items I have used in the past on the table just seemed to stick out without any real design to me.

Getting rid of my coffee table is not something I would prefer to do.  I purchased this table about 10 or 12 yrs ago for $25.00 at an antique store. 

At the time the entire piece was stained the color inside the center of this diamond.  What you cannot see is that there is a huge water stain that would not come out after I stripped this table down.  So I settle on being creative and using 3 different shades of stain to create the look I have here, hiding the water stain in the center diamond.

I bought this table so my sons would have a place to color and store their crayons at a time when money was tight and my time was more abundant.  They have loved it over the years and we have never once worried about damaging this table.   So, I'll keep it a little longer and just trying adding more decor.

So after much hustling around this morning, here is my new coffee table vignette!  I just love it!  I decided to go with a coastal them for the summer, and had a great time pulling items from around the house.

I knew immediately I would use one of the faux ferns I had put in storage after seeing Kim @ Savvy Southern Style sisters beautiful coffee table here at ,

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2010/04/sisters-house-part-iii.html

Thanks again for the inspiration!

Then I started with my centerpiece, I added the pretty white platter that I bought 2yrs ago at a shop in Myrtle Beach, I just love the how it reminds me of a seashell.  

 Of course an empty platter doesn't do much for the table so I added my brass sailboats int he middle to give it some heighth.  I have nearly thrown these things out a dozen times cause I am not a brass fan.  But I am a sailboat fan so I hung on to them.  So this morning I broke out the acetone and paint and changed them to white, they look so much better now, don't cha think?

Then I added seashells and sea finds that hold so many special memories or our trips to the coast.

I really am well pleased with this finished result that holds so many memories...maybe I will add one piece this summer.

Of course for me no table seems complete without a candle, so I pulled my coastal wooden candle holder off the screen porch, washed it off, and added some height.  I used this little yard sale dish and added styrofoam and moss. 

I was going to use this beautiful live moss from my yard

until I discovered live bugs in it after breaking off a piece, so I borrowed a little green faux moss from the Easter display and here it is.

The floral shell was my mother in laws.  It is Royal Adderley bone china from England, and fits my theme just perfectly. 

 Finally, I had to have my magazines out within easy view and at arms length reach.

I'm very happy with the outcome and ready for summer, I guess I should go and put up all the Easter decor now.  LOL!  Hope you like it too!  Leave me a comment and tell me what you think?

I'm linking with the following partys today, stop by these sites as well and see many more great ideas!

It's Tabletop Tuesday with Marty @ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

And with Nifty Thrifty @ http://coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

And with Second Time around Tuesday @

http://diane1876.blogspot.com/2010/04/2nd-time-around-auction-regrets.html

Finished the Speckled Eggs for Easter

And here they are...as promised I finally added the speckled Easter Eggs.  I just love them! 

After baking all day for the family, these eggs were a treat and a delight to do.  I want to personally thank our blogging friend who recently had this link on her blog.  I am sorry to say I do not recall who had the blog.  I was certain the moment I saw these they would be the perfect addition to my Easter table centerpiece.

 Since my family always engages in  "EGG WARS" on Easter, decorated eggs on the table are a must.  To play you must have two players, each person takes turns hitting their eggs together to see who's is the first to crack.  The winner then takes the uncracked egg and challanges another player.  And so it goes using both ends of the eggs until all are cracked.  I know it is a shame to put these beautiful eggs through such demolition but they will be eaten afterall. 

Here is the link that our blogging friend posted that inspired me so much...
How to Make Speckled Easter Eggs - SouthernLiving.com

I hope this link works out as it is my first time linking to a magazine.  Again, thank you so much to the original blogger who provided this link so that I could see it. 

Happy Easter Everyone!

May each of you recieve God's blessing!

In Celebration of Easter

Preparing for Easter is one of my favorite holidays to plan for.  I have been especially blessed this year with the time to make sure I have the details in order.  I am celebrating this year with my side of the family.  They are not the types to be concerned with china and decorating but they are kind enough to indulge me in my whims.  That's what families do, they accept who you are and make the best of it.   They understood along time ago that it makes me happy to focus on the pretty things in life.  There are so many situations and sorrows that can steal your joy, but focusing on good things can keep you in the spirit.  I am blessed to be able to serve my family in a way that I think they are worthy of, so here is a vision of how we will be dining this year.  I am linking with Susan at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for Tablescape Thursday this week, please enjoy others by following the link above.

I am very pleased to be able to include pieces from two of my grandmothers, in my table setting this year.

I am using my paternal grandmothers china and my maternal grandmothers crystal.

As you can see, those sweet little duckys made it to the table this year.

This was Grandma Millie's crystal.  My grandfather, her husband, was employed by the U.S. to entertain dignitary visitors to the Panama Canal as it was being built.  My grandmother was a very important part of that position back in the day.  She played the piano for guests and entertained beautifully.  To think that she may have used these while entertaining in their home makes me very happy.  I love how they are very simple and etched in gold, something we rarely see or use these days.

This is my grandmother, NaNa's china.  It is from China.  Brought back by her husband during WWI.  They were simple farmers in South Carolina descended here from Germany.  They settled into an area here that was named Dutch Fork after the German descendents that inhabited the area.  The original area of DF is now under water after a lake was built in the area dividing my ancestors on several sides.  I love how chipped this china is because my Grandmother believed in using this every Sunday and as often as possible.

I think they would be both be very happy to see their pieces being used and even happier to see how I have decided to use them my own way.

I plan to add some dyed eggs in the center of this bowl  that holds my faux chocolate bunny.  I am looking forward to trying out the Southern Living recipe for speckled tea stained eggs.

The Old brown bunny who lives by the door on my front porch year round is ready to greet our guests.

My front door is subtle but simply announces Easter to all who enter within.

The bunny village rests on our old hutch in the den...

And my newest of favorite Easter decor adorns the fireplace.  These vintage looking bunnies were purchased a few years ago at Ross for a steal of $12.99 each.  They are 26inches tall and utterly creepy according to my husband and sons. I love adjusting thier ears, and the way they look right through you with that creepy bunny  stare.  LOL!

I hope each of you has a very enjoyable holiday celebrating Easter this year. There is much to celebrate even without all the fun pretty things.  It is Jesus who has given us the true reason to celebrate.  With that in mind,  it is my wish to celebrate with all that he has given me.  Those who have come before me and with those that are here before me now.  God Bless each of you!

Happy Easter!