A LA CARTE: March 2013

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Bunny Hop!

I'm home and so happy to be back! Tomorrow I leave to spend the weekend with Sara, Blake and Tiger! I can hardly wait! Since I've had no time to decorate for Easter I decided to share my bunny filled cubbies from a couple of years ago!

So many bunnies!

I know your thinking I collect bunnies....but I don't

REALLY I don't!

I do collect egg cups, so these are mine!

and this one also!

However my daughter Sara collected rabbits as a girl and I have inherited her collection. They look so cute in the cubbies and remind me of many great times of shopping together for a new bunny for her collection!

I have added to the collection I must admit...like this adorable cross stitch found at the thrift for .35

I also added these great rabbits again found thirfting and only .80 each!

Ok, Ok, so I collect rabbits, yes I do!

This is a couple of my favorite things!

I love this green and white rabbit but my real favorite thing is this copy of Peter Rabbit in French! Pierre Lapin has been with me for over 40 years, since high school!

I'm joining these fun parties

Thrifty Things Friday

A Favorite Thing

Seasonal Sunday

Wishing You JOY,

Linda

Monday, March 25, 2013

Heading Home!

I'm heading home on Tuesday afternoon!

I've had a good visit with my Mom!

It is always hard to leave her, ALWAYS!

Still, I can't wait to get home and spend Easter with this little guy!

KitchenAid Mixer bowl as hat...works for Tiger!

Here he was at the park on a very cool Spring morning!

A warmer hat then the mixing bowl but not nearly as much fun!

This is the first art work Tiger has sent to me!

It will be going home and on the refrigerator of course!!

On my last thrifting trip in Texas I found this great bag!

It is made by Baggallini and is so cool!

A zipout Shopping Bag.

I have seen some on line but they are a little pricey

this one runs close to $30....my price???

$3.00....score! It folds up into the pouch, lightweight and very durable. Great to take along as a extra bag in case you buy too much on a trip??

Does anyone else do that?

Oh yeah, of course you do!!

Time for me to hit the road

(well to the airport...I'm flying home)

Wishing You JOY,

Linda

I'm joining You're Gonna Love It

(photos of Tiger taken by his parents)

Saturday, March 23, 2013

La Tour Eiffel!

So many great things have happened on this visit home to see my Mom! She is doing so well health wise and we really have had a good visit. My cousins and I got together for some fun and silly time! I got to meet a blogger friend (Shelia) and I got to spend a little time with my Sister In Law!

So why is this titled la tour Eiffel?

Because of this.....

I feel like my Paris trip is bringing me Eiffel Tower luck! Both of these were found thrifting here in Texas. The tall black bottle can be used to hold flowers and the little Eiffel Tower is a pencil sharpener, I love them both!

Then Shelia gave me this Journal for my Paris trip with what else on the cover....

the Eiffel Tower!

I love the Audrey Hepburn quote

"Paris is always a good idea"

But the pièce de résistance is this wonderful coffee mug I found at Home Goods.

I paid full price for this my friends and that is almost unheard of!

But who could resist this la tour Eiffel mug that I will drink my coffee from while planning my trip to Paris in September! There were plates and bowls also (oh my) but since I am far from home I resisted. If I find them when I return home I just 'might' have to buy a couple of the plates at least!

I'm sure by now you are aware of my my Eiffel Tower love! If you would like to learn more about this monument you can click HERE

I cannot wait to see it in person!

I'm linking this with

A Favorite Thing!

Wishing You JOY,

Linda

Friday, March 22, 2013

I've Got A Friend!

I've shared before how much blogging means to me. Over the years I have come to realize that what I treasure the most is the friendships I've made. Most of you I will sadly never meet in person, but occasionally the stars align and I get to meet face to face with a blogging friend! That happened this week!

I have followed Shelia's blog Note Songs for years. You know how you read someone's blog and KNOW you could be friends...well we are! She is always upbeat and makes the cutest little vignettes. He blog always makes me feel good, so I was super excited to meet her in person!

GUESS WHAT?

She is even more awesome in person! Cute as a button and twice as sweet! We had no trouble talking for hours and I enjoyed every minute of it!

I know I promised lots of photos but I was enjoying the visit so much that these photos Shelia's Mr. Precious took are all I have to share!

Look at sweet Chloe Dawn, she was adorable too!

The visit started with a tour of her lovely home. I got to see all these charming decorations in person and yes...her home is as cute as her photos show! She has little visual surprises everywhere! A feast for the eyes!

And speaking of feasts, Shelia made lunch for us and it was so good. Chicken salad on croissants, fruit, chips and ice tea. I enjoyed meeting Mr. Precious who ate lunch and left us to our chattering!

Her Easter mantel was so cute. I must say I just love her style and everything about this fun lady!

As bloggers do we exchanged some gifts!

Look at this journal with the Eiffel Tower on it! For my trip to Paris she said....how thoughtful and I will use it for sure! She also made me this darling Rooster potholder! (Roos are a favorite of her's) and of course a chocolate Easter bunny!

I am so Grateful for the chance to meet Shelia in person and spend time with her. Since she lives not too far from my Mom, we hope to get together again next time I'm in Texas! Thank you Shelia for a wonderful day!

I'm joining Mary's new link party

Gratitude Weekly

I will no longer host Gratitude Sunday so I am very happy that Mary has started this party! I hope you will join us!

Wishing You JOY,

Linda

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

This 'N' That

It's Tuesday evening as I write this post!

I am so excited, because tomorrow I get to meet a blogging friend!
Shelia of Note Songs lives in Galveston, TX less then an hour away from my Mom's house. We had hoped to meet last time I was in TX, but Mom was too ill for me to leave her for several hours. This visit Mom is in great health so Shelia and I are meeting TOMORROW!

If you haven't visited Shelia's blog you should! She has such a fun style and always shares a song with us on each post! I will of course have my camera and there will be photos and stories!

The Gratitude Sunday link party here at A La Carte, came out of a challenge I did with my friend Mary of Redo 101. We did a gratitude post each day of November and it was life changing for Mary and I both. I started the Gratitude Party but have found it difficult to continue it and was considering ending it. Today Mary has decided she will host a Gratitude Weekly party on Friday. I could not be happier and will close my party and join her's! Please check out this new linky party that will start this Friday, March 22nd. Mary is a wonderful person and I have enjoyed getting to know her better! I hope you will all join us,

Gratitude Can Change Your Life!

I was so upset to learn that Google Reader will close down in July. I love using a reader that way I do not miss any of your posts! I and many others were looking for a reader and who do I hear about but BLOGLOVIN! It is GREAT! They will transfer your Goggle Reader list to Bloglovin and so far I have found it easy to use. I know they have had lots of new sign ups and I recommend you consider it if looking for a new Reader. I put a button on my blog to follow with Bloglovin!
(no compensation for this just sharing my personal experience)

I am missing my Georgia family and friends. Today Tiger was saying 'Grandma come see Tiger now?' so they called me to tell me they missed me!
I love that little one so much!
Here he is having breakfast 'coffee' with Dad!

I'm joining Kathe for
Your Gonna Love It

Wishing You JOY,

Linda

Running Out, Run In!!

I am a fan of Publix grocery store!

They have great BOGO each week and it can really stretch the food budget dollars!

This month Publix is offering some great savings on some of your favorite name brand products from General Mills and Proctor & Gamble!

Purchase $25 in participating products 3/13/13 through 3/30/13 and you could earn a $5 Publix gift card to use on your next visit!

Check out the details HERE

Some of my favorite products are included in this promotion: Cheerios, Crest toothpaste, Charmin Bath tissue and so many others! I received a gift card to Publix for my participation in this event.

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

"The information, products and General Mills gift pack were provided by General Mills and Publix® through MyBlogSpark."

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Gratitude Sunday #11

It's a beautiful day here in Houston, Texas

The sun is shining and it's a lovely 75 degrees out!

I hope you are having a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

Mom is cooking corned beef and cabbage and I am looking forward to it!

Feeling a little homesick today. Missing my sweet Tiger. They got a new picnic bench and I can't wait to enjoy eating out there on my next visit!

Tiger enjoying his first ice cream cone!

Of course I've been missing these boys also!

(I can see that Mr Toes is getting some fur back on his shaved areas!)

This week I am so grateful that I have been able to help family members here in Houston. I live so far away from my Mom, but I have an Aunt and a couple of cousins who live here and are wonderful about watching out for her and helping her if she needs anything! So this week when I was able to help them....well it just felt great! I took my cousin Karen to the ER (she needed to make sure her ankle wasn't broken) and my other cousin Joletta to her Dr's appt. She isn't able to drive right now with her heart issues. Both of my cousins are very special to me. One is older (Joletta) one younger (Karen). We have grown up seeing each other on vacations and have remained close. Now that they are in Houston I see them several times a year when I visit my Mom. We have grown even closer as we all struggle with aging Mothers who are all sisters. Joletta's Mom has passed away but Karen's Mom and mine are still with us. We ourselves have had medical issues....Joletta with her heart and Karen with COPD. I'm the healthiest and hope to keep it that way! We always have a 'cousins night out' for Mexican food and talk and talk and talk! I am so grateful for these amazing women who are a part of my life!

What are you Grateful for??

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

**I am not sure if I will continue this party past Easter. It doesn't seem that many linkup and since there are so many Sunday parties maybe one more is just too many. I will let you know for sure next week. Thanks to all of you who have participated.**