Keep Calm & Carry On

Have you been admiring this phrase as much as me? I've been seeing it all over blogland & wanted my own. Here's my version... tell me what you think!

What makes my heart sing is it required me to use my stuff! I know! Imagine my delight... Ladies, I am truly blessed with crafting stuff & my own little space to work in but I am not blessed with time to play. When I finally do find a moment I'm quickly overwhelmed by a) the mess my craft room is in or b) the sheer volume of choices. I end up creating nothing & feeling like a crafting failure. I've been feeling like that a lot lately, for weeks and weeks in fact. My secret shame. No one should feel that way. This past week I spent a little time out there working on clearing & organizing. It's not done but most importantly it helped me to feel a connection to my creative space. So Saturday afternoon when I decided to go play with my things I was able to actually make something... *smiles* My heart was singing! Silly I know... but don't you ever feel that way too? Get bogged down in too many choices & perfectionism? This simple totally copy-catted sign represents me overcoming my creative block & actually doing/making something. For that it makes me happy & I'm totally ignoring the fact that the first R in Carry isn't perfect.... It's part of it's handcrafted charm!

for me?

I can't believe I got this award! I am so honored! I mean really.. .Me? Have you met me? For some reason Melissa over at Little Things In Life gave me this award and I'm naturally thrilled and grateful to be thought of. I just wouldn't think I'm high on anyone's list of recognition for the Dardos Award but Melissa being the sweet and generous soul that she is thought so. Thank you Melissa! I am so unworthy but I thank you all the same and will try to live up to your award!

“The Dardos Award is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web.”

I know there's been some talk about whether to participate in passing awards along. It takes time to select people to award and really when you think about it all of us who read each other's blogs daily know that we're all at the top of the list for any award that comes along because we all deserve it, why else would we read a blog if it wasn't worthy of this and many other awards, right? So how can I choose? I can't. I just don't want to slight anyone and I know I'll miss someone in the process. So if you've not received this award and would like it please take it and post that you received it from me with my heartfelt best wishes.

Hi Y'all

I just wanted everyone to know that I'm alive and well but just busy. I feel so guilty for not updating my blog regularly with pictures and stories of my latest bargains scored. I have not given up on blogging I just suck at it. Right now I'm all stuck into a work pattern that isn't working for me or my family. We are a commuter family of four with two cars between us and varying schedules add to that a 45 minute one way commute. It's tough and it consumes a larger portion of my time than I feel is mentally or creatively healthy. For several years we've been on a path of eliminating debt and living as simply as we can by necessity not so much by choice *smiles* which I guess means we're in a better position to weather these tough times than other people may be because I can live without a Starbucks Iced Coffee and the latest craft crap and not feel a single ounce of guilt for it *smiles* We're trying to save up to purchase a junker or as we call them in our house a hoopty! And I'm considering a return to my field as in career not plowing. But that's a post for another day... Right now I just want y'all to know that I'm still here, I'm just struggling to be a Wonder Woman. I'm reaching out for simplicity and embracing the abundance in my life with gratitude. And perhaps soon that will include another vehicle, if not then I'll enjoy the commute time with darling husband and dear son and stop worrying about things that I can't control like time to blog and decorate. So forgive me for not posting regularly, I'm trying, I really am. And anyone with hints or tips on tossing that golden lasso and having it all, please share!!!

Charleston SC Sysco Food Show 2009

Hey Everyone! I thought you might enjoy a few pictures from the food show. We had a great time and ate loads of delicious food. Here I am with Cindy.

Gleaming equipment! Be still my heart!Paper products cause everyone needs some of thoseCoffee...I can't live without it. Iron Brew is crafted in the Carolina's and is very rich with smooth finish, good stuff! I brought home sample bags of their newest flavor "Sticky Bun"

Don't those burgers look yummy?

I wish y'all could have tasted the roasted portabello ravioli I ate, OMGosh, was it divine!There was loads of cheese, a wonderful sage Derby that was such an odd shade of green as well as some favorites like Boursin. All there for the tasting.OK two words... LOBSTER BISQUECindy whom y'all met earlier makes the absolute best sweet potato casserole EVER but we both agreed this one was ITNow for some sexy...

Maybe after all that we need a little healthy...

Am I the only one who loves seeing produce?

Edible flowers, how beautiful are those?

I remember these knife cuts from my practical examination!
Who knew I could have bought them...

What I didn't get a picture of was these slices of corn on the cob that we ate raw. This corn was unbelievably tender and sweet as sugar.

After all that healthy we need some more sexy...

Nothing speaks to me like Chocolate and Raspberry combined

All beautifully presented.

Lots of sampling going on!

I ate a tiny piece of an orange cake confection, ohmyWORD sooooo goood
And here's my friend who made it all possible for me & Cindy to attend...

Meet Jack!