Tip Of The Day!

I FINALLY have started the 'ol Spring Clean!

I fully intended to start right after Christmas...yeah.....didn't make that timeline for sure.

Which really has nothing at all to do with this post, does it?  

Except that I wanted to replace all the moss in my pots as I work around the cottage spiffing things up and I found this AWESOME deal at Dollar Tree.

A BUCK!  I've purchased dearfoot/reindeer moss many times, and usually use my Michaels coupons, but have never gotten the stuff for a buck.

So, hurry right on over and pick yourself up a few bags!

Thanks Dollar Tree for the great deal.

It's a decent sized bag too!

The second part of this story is that I bought four bags full of items and only made it home with two.  Why can't they give you ALL of your bags?  I was NOT happy.  I am in the midst of totally tearing the place up around here and did not have time for a return trip.  Grrrrr.

I always start with my bathroom (aka the master bath)...  and I'm so excited to show you all the improvements.....  It's a rather LARGE project which is why I was procrastinating.  As usual.

Ok girls........Start Your Engines!

Spencer

xo

Darn.... Oh Darn.... Oh Darn....

Hey Chickies....  How have you been?

Well, it went from the crud to a big 'ol fall and a bonk on my poor 'lil noggin...

I was trying to come into the house, from the garage, and took a dive...  you'd think one would land right on their nose, right?  NOPE....  landed right on the back of my head.  How did I do a flip in mid-air?  Whew, I'd love to see the video.

At any rate...  feeling much better now, but what a beginning to 2013.

Hoping that's the end of the unfortunate health stuff.

But I did see today that I'm a day late and a dollar short for this wonderful estate sale.

How could I have missed this?

We knew the house was up for sale and we (my daughter and I) were waiting for this sale.  We could see the cute stuff right through the window.

And, I admired this house forever.  This lady liked little lamps just like I do.  Why have one when 20 will work???

Just look at that tile...  yeah, not part of the sale, but how cute is that???  And, what a lovely stove...

Lots of kitchenware.  Oh how I love that kind of thing.  No, I don't have a spare inch to add one more thing, but I'll never stop looking.  I LOVE the thrill of the hunt.

TWO dress forms....  TWO!  I could see them through the window and dreamed of having one for myveryownself....  Maybe I'll still find one....  I'm hoping....  not that I have room, but for one of those lovelies I'll MAKE some room.  It would be like playing big girl dolls...  dressing her up for occasions....  right?

My girl has collected Dione Quintuplet memorabilia since she was about ten...  She has quite a lot and we have gifted her many items over the years....  see that little set of all five of them right there on the dresser?

And, lots and lots of linens...  I can never pass them up.  I have a gazillion of them already.  I used to purchase only the perfect bits, but now I just don't care..  well...  to a point.  I like perfect, but I truly don't mind a little mend.  I think it just makes them sweeter.  

I'm trying to get myself ready for Spring Cleaning...  I've been doing a little bit of pre-cleaning...  some organizing and preparing.  I have a BIG repair job to do in my bathroom...   As I've said before my little cottage is not a fancy 'lil thang...  and has vinyl flooring....  now with about four big stains from haircolor.  Yes, I do my own....  or I'd be all white by now.....  And then there was the accident with the sink.  Let me warn you....  when you read on Pinterest that pouring boiling water down the drain will clear the clog....  don't do it.  I can't say how I know....  but I do.    *wink*

Besides that, I have the HUGE builder's mirror that needs some pretty trim and a Formica countertop that will be replaced.   Just knowing how much work needs to be done in there is hanging me up.  I always start with that bathroom...  I'm dreading it.  But, I'll be thrilled when it's done.

I have lots of sewing to do too.

So, what are you up to?

Do you have some projects in the hopper?

I've missed all of you.

I hope you're well.

Huggies and Lovies,

Spencer

PS...  I am ADDICTED to Pinterest and that takes a LOT of time.  Hence....  erratic blogging.

Ahhhh.... Come ON.... It's JULY!

Yep, I LOVE, love, love the Pacific Northwest...

It's such a beautiful place to live but this is just CRAZY!

Isn't this supposed to be summer?


Listen.... I can HEAR my posies yelling for some sunshine.


It's dark and gloomy and there is not a hint of a bright day.


I guess it's just as well. I will doing more sorting and cleaning today.


It makes me appreciate having an eensie-beensie cottage..........there aren't many rooms to clean. :-)



I hope all is well with all of you dear and wonderful chickies and hopefully you're getting a bit of sunshine in your world. :-)


Are you toasty or freezing too?



I'll be a good blogging buddy again, I PROMISE! Right after I finish this project.


Oh my goodness.... You just can't imagine how many "lost" things I've found.


YIPPPEEEE!



It'll just be me and Mr. Clean today. Gosh, I love that guy.


Huggies, Lovies and Blessings,

Spencer

Hey Chickies! Saturday Giggles For YOU!

It's all about the wording, isn't it???

I love getting the emails that have boo-boos in them.... Funny newspaper titles.... and signs... don't these folks READ what they write?


At any rate they ALWAYS make me laugh out loud.

And, nothing's better for your health that a good guffaw, right?





This has been my longest blogging break ever...



We got the den painted. OH MY GOODNESS. I picked out the most delicious chocolate brown...it was delish...and with the cream accessories it would have been yummy.... See that "would have been"???


The itsy-bitsy Bellamere Cottage has rather an open floor plan.

That's really nice and I LOVE it.

However............


If you stand in the kitchen or living room you can see into two of the bedrooms.

The living room is VERY pale blush pink.

The bedroom (the just finished one) is pale blue.

And then...........this BROWN room?


It just wasn't going to make it for me.


I was so mad at myself......but we took a trip to Home Depot and bought a reallllly unusual color..........CREAM.... Yeah, I KNOW.... Not too interesting, is it?


But, from the kitchen it doesn't look funny and I still think it's going to be ok.

Sooooooooo...........covering BROWN with CREAM??

Not a picnic.

I will highly recommend the new Behr paint with primer already included though.

GREAT PAINT!


My little desk area is all finished.........It's going to be wonderful compared to what I had before. Can't wait to show you.

I've been sitting with a recycle bin and a shredding bin all day sorting all that dasterdly paper stuff..........for HEAVEN'S sake....where does it all come from?


Do I really have to keep it?


So, to do the desk and paint we unhooked the computer. No problem, I can use the Hubb's laptop so I could keep up with blogging.


WHERE WAS MY BRAIN?


No wifi if the stuff isn't all hooked up, so I was computerless for days and days.


And, I've had my little grandson here since Monday. He is hilarious so he's a joy to have and I wouldn't miss time with him for ANYTHING.


I probably don't even need to tell you I am soooo darn pooped.


So, girlies, that's my story.


We've had lousy weather so I haven't taken passable pictures of the finished bedroom and bath yet.... Soon, I hope!


Hope you've all been well.





Love you much!


Have a wonderful weekend!

Huggies and lovies,
S

Ouch!

Now, I think THAT'S a bargain!

You know how I LOVE a sale.

Let The Spring Cleaning Begin!

Hi Sweet Girlies and Happy FRIDAY!

I know I've talked about starting the Spring Cleaning FOREVER....but now I'm really getting down to it.  I'm patting myself on the back and if I could jump up and down I really would!

Do you remember the old Bea Arthur show called Maude?  Every time I think about jumping up and down I remember her saying if she did that she'd get two black eyes........that was years ago and it still makes me laugh.

Ok......as long as I'm walking down memory lane....the other hilarious line I'll always remember was from Cheers.  Cliff was sitting on his little barstool when Norm walked in.  Cliff said "What's shakin, Norm"..........Norm's response?  "Four cheeks and two chins"......Yep, still funny!

Oh brother, I should learn not to do my posts when I'm really tired and a bit loopy....NO, I DO NOT drink....just fatigue goofy.

Anyway.........as I've said the cottage is pretty beensie and I LOVE to collect.  I don't think I'll EVER stop.  There still have to be some great thrifty finds out there, right?

I had my overflow of extra things in a cupboard that was too small and disorganized.  I had to be careful every time I opened the doors that nothing would fall out and break.

I wanted more space.....Enter the hall closet.  It was under used.  There just isn't enough room at Bellamere Cottage for any spaces that aren't fully used so I painted it and added some shelving.

Yipppeee!  Now I have a spot to store all of those extra finds until I use them.

I know.....you're thinking...........good gravy, does this girl have enough junk?

Yep, that's exactly what my Hubbs says each time I come home with a bag.

"MORE china"?

 

When my Mum passed away I inherited some of her china too....and some of her other things I can't bear to part with.  That big blue stone?  My Mum's.  She loved it...gotta hang onto that.....Lots of her plates.....her little Creamer and Sugar that she always put on the table when we had tea.    :-)

  

 The little burgandy box on the top shelf was one of the first gifts my hubby gave to me.

I pick up lucky pennies and that little thing is full of them.  It plays music...Isn't that sweet?

  

 I don't know what the things on the left are actually called, but I call them cottage ware....I have spot all planned for them.

  

 Years ago I collected loads of jadeite....and a little bit of depression glass.  At that time the depression glass was a bit more expensive so I decided to keep it when I pared down a bit.  Hard to believe, I know.  Anyway, I sold allllll of my jadeite for a song at my garage sale.  Nuts.  I sure wish I had it now.  And, I'm left with these lousy salt and pepper shakers.    :-)

  

 Hanging the cups on the edge of the shelf saved lots of space.

And there are a few of my pitchers......I couldn't believe how many I have.......There are still lots of them all over the cottage.

  

 Oh how I love plates.........that's why I have to stack them under things all around the house.   :-)

  

  I moved all of my books to the cupboard where the china was originally....That is sooo much better.

Several months ago I blogged about buying one of those little two level grocery carts.....well, let me tell you, that came in realllly handy.  Much easier to cart all my dishes to the sink for the big WASH....   :-)

And, I didn't break anything this time.  Oh, now that's good news for a change.

Ok, my sweet girlie friends.......I'd better go get some sleep.

I hope you're all well...........I'm going to try to post as much as I can, but I'm not going to be able to visit as much as I want to.....gotta get this cleaning thing done!

I miss you!

You're the very best.

Huggies and lovies,

Spencer

I'm A Little Bit Late! Happy Sunday Favorites!

That SWEET little gal, Chari, over at Happy to Design just started this new MEME......

What a grand idea. It's a chance to re-post one of your favorite posts......well, this isn't exactly my favorite post, but I'm getting geared up to actually START the project now, so a re-post is a pretty good idea. I did find the silk duvet cover at Tuesday Morning as planned, so I have all my fabrics and I'm ready to begin! It's time for a den beauty make-over, that's for sure. I can't wait to see this finished.

I'm still at my girl's house taking care of her after her surgery....(I have been so blessed by your messages and prayers.......thank you soooooooo much!) I think I'll be able to go home by Tuesday. My poor hubbs and my pup really miss me. Isn't that sweet? It's so nice to be missed. My grandson LOVES it when I stay. Poor kid is kind of torn. He loves to be with me, but doesn't like to leave his mom........so when I stay he gets to have both.

I'll be posting the updates as I get rolling. :-)

Please pop over to Happy to Design to check out the other posts!
I think this is going to be fun!

Again......I'm sorry I'm so late.

I always try to re-decorate a room every year. Our house is really tiny so it doesn't take too long before each room gets a new "do". The den is on the list this year. I already found a terrific chair and this wonderful fabric! I was thrilled! It's dupioni silk and was on a great sale. Tuesday Morning has a comforter cover on sale next week I'm hoping will match my plan, so I'll use it to make the daybed cover and bolsters. These little pretties came from Hancock Fabrics and I actually found the shade there as well. I'll paint the walls the darker brown shown here. I'll post the pix when I get it all pulled together. I love having something to look forward to and it inspires me to start on my Spring cleaning.


I don't have a plan for the curtains yet, I'm going to have to think about it, but I bought ten yards of fabric so, hopefully, I'll have enough.


I'm totally hooked on the Swedish blogs right now. I can't read a darn thing, but their decorating style is wonderful. So clean and crisp.......and very interesting. It's so different from my style.......which is "Too Much is Never Enough"........I like things VERY full. This yummy Swedish style could sway me, but what would I do with all these things that it's taken me years to collect.....I know, I can hear my daughter saying "Mom...pass it on"... :-)

Wishing all you wonderful gals a terrific Sunday.

Blessings and hugs!
Spencer
xoxoxo