Wow! Where have these been? Chic new styles are in from Old Gringo! The Carla is a 6″ shaft genuine leather boot featuring a beautiful multi color floral embroidery with side zip and rounded toe. I love these paired with either my favorite jeans or tunic dresses for a trendy, boho – country look! I am thinking I could get away with these booties for Spring or Summer as well as Fall. That’s my thing…I love things I can wear universally since the weather is mild-ish in Texas!
The ONTHEGO bag from Louis Vuitton is sold out in the brown color…but I love her! I will be on the lookout, and if we go to Italy this year as planned, I may try to pick one up as a vacation souvenir…or at least that’s how I would justify purchasing it.
I am trying to spend less on common purchases to work towards my inner self agreeing that more expensive purchases are rationalized. I need her in my life.
If you know meat all, then you would know that I have wanted a chicken coup for quite some time! My main reason for the delay has been that we moved to an area with more strict of an HOA so chickens are not actually allowed. While there was a bill in Texas last year, to attempt to override the bans that HOAs place on homeowners, in regard to chickens…it still has not passed.
I would have to build my chicken empire and then have to get rid of them due to HOA Nazis. I do understand though, that it should be looked at as a case by case issue. Some people would never clean up after their chickens, or would have makeshift chicken coups built out of crates or something. I would like to hope that my chickenry (my word) will be so fabulous, that I will rise above scrutiny. We will see if I take the plunge or not!
Gardening is my jam! I have been planting tomatoes and peppers and whatnot here and there, but I need more room! I currently have a random concrete slab that the previous owners installed for whatever reason. It’s ugly, too close to the house and recently I thought of an idea for it!
A raised garden area would be perfect! There is nothing better than needing green onions for something I am cooking, and being able to go outside and cut some off of my onion patch. With a bit more work, maybe I could learn to be a more responsible, disciplined vegetable gardener!
I have had a huge composting area for a few years now and the soil is absolutely magical! f I have a plant that is near death, I can stick in my compost area and it gets brought back to life very quickly!
Since I did my remodel on our current house, I have wanted to add a mirrored wall with antiqued glass to the dining area much like what they have done above. At the time, the price quotes I was getting were crazy high, so I decided to spend money elsewhere because a glass wall is easy to have installed after move in. Later, I considered wallpaper but my focus is back on the antiqued mirror look.
I designed the house around the concept of a modern Versailles type of look, so the mirror fits in with my original idea. There is also the point that the house is not super large, so mirrors help to give the illusion of a larger room.
There are so many ideas out there for mirrors but the look above is my final inspiration. I will share if I get it done this year! You can see my current dining room here.
These are my top 5 things I am obsessing over right now…as you can see, a little bit of everything is involved…a little fashion, a bit of nature and some home decor!
You never know how your words and actions can positively affect those around you. This is a post that I have been wanting to share for quite some time.
I had taken the photo above on Laguna Beach over a year ago. I occasionally jaunt there if I have to go to Los Angeles for work. Laguna is amazing. I have been a few times alone but it’s a place I can sit quietly and think in peace and plan goals. There are tiny little hummingbirds that I get up for at 6am to photograph in the sunrise. They flicker around in the shrubbery as the waves crash in down below the cliffs. It’s my Happy Place. I have a favorite hotel and eating spot. Laguna Beach is my jam. But I digress…
I had been treated poorly by a person or two in the weeks before my trip to Los Angeles. Beware miserable people because those are the ones who will spread lies and try to undo your joy and success. Unless they are well-minded they just can’t help it. Misery loves company. I had sat back quietly, and watched as the whole thing unfolded. I do not want to go into too much detail but I will say this…. when someone tells you something scandelous about another person, be wise and verify before acting upon the intel.
I received a phone call which really hurt my feelings. This third party individual, was not operating with any level of reasonable discernment so she acted on on the bogus intel and said very hurtful, untrue things. I was in the middle of this episode when I had to take the mainly work focused trip to Los Angeles. After work meetings for days, I treated myself to some personal time in Laguna. I recalibrated, yet was a little depressed from that as well as weeks of chronic neck pain from a recent car incident so I wasn’t doing my best.
On the plane trip home, I was my typical quiet, no-eye contact self. I do that to not get tied up. I find once I make eye contact…people think it’s a ticket in. Next thing you know, someone is trying to sell me into joining their multi-level marketing thing or buying $2,000 skin care system or whatnot. I am also shy, so it’s a defense mechanism. I had very few friends in school – actually, none so I grew up accustomed to being alone, and ignoring others who were rude or mean. I wasn’t the cutest girl, so people were mean. Whole other story for another time. It comes off as rude now, so it’s something I am working on but that’s where it was born.
In the two seats next to me wear 2 black girls. One had pink hair and bright green clothing on, the other looked all business. Pink hair girl started talking to me so I offered some of my gummy bears. I travel well prepared. Are there any other grown ass women that carry gummy bears while traveling? Maybe not, so she thought it was funny. Pink hair and I had a nice chat in which I learned she was a college educated person who hated her job so she quit for one year to pursue dancing and acting. She was a Christian because she made reference. She had gotten a call for a major dance audition, which was her reason for pink hair and the trip to Los Angeles. She was super sweet and I would have enjoyed her friendship long term. The other girl was an executive in her field and had taken vacation time to see family. I thought it unconventional that she traveled in a suit in today’s world of pajama travelers. She was old school class from another dimension. Her job was boring and stuffy. She was soft spoken about her accomplishments. Both girls were impressive. They could carry a conversation about the arts or business and social issues. They were focused and genuine and if there were a plane crash, I’d want to be with them and go where they were going afterward.
Business suit girl was busy writing in her notebook during the journey. Lord, she was a success and imagine that! People who write shit down are always the leaders. Randoms who live by the seat of their pants are rarely successful or live intentional lives. This is a constant conversation in my life because as I try to train and develop people at work or in life…this is a constant issue that holds people back from living their best life. However, to get back on point…after business suit girl finishes some of her writings, I get a small, two page letter passed to me from her window seat.
Can you say uncomfortable!?! What was this!?! The letter started off with… “Daughter of The Most High God, for you are such a Jewel in the Heavenly Father’s eyes. Many have misunderstood you and because of this they did not know how to love you or embrace you but the Father has chosen you and created you to be unique on purpose…”
I won’t share the entire thing because it’s sacred to me. The point is that her little gesture meant a lot to me at the time and was a reminder that I needed right at that moment. I have never fit in, and have never had a desire to. It’s not who I am. I am different. I am interested in many different types of things. I am not one dimensional. People are not used to that. When the incident happened, I was disturbed by it because it was so mean spirited. My appearance was insulted, my integrity and my business acumen. The worst part was that it was all lies. I can deal with a lot but I can not stand it when people lie. When you are a liar, you are nothing. Your word is meaningless and you do not exist in the spirit of reality. Sick people think simply saying something out loud makes it true. I loathe the term my truth is that…such and such. People that use that term kill me. What you believe has zero effect on reality. People often give their viewpoint, but when I ask what research they did to come up with their viewpoint…I typically get a blank stare.
My point here is that something is really wrong with people who make things up. I was really down about the event of meanness. I was basically told there was something unpleasant about my face and that I was offensive. It’s the only face I have so I was hurt to say the lease. The funny thing, is the person who started the whole attack, was really weak in the looks department. So after I got over my initial hurt and shock, I realized the source was a bitter, unhappy person who didn’t have a lot of joy in their life. Other things about my existence were attacked, but the point is, I was just in the middle of dealing with hurtfulness…and this sweet girl gives me this special letter which warmed my heart.
I want to be more like her. We all should be more like her. The world she be more like her. With the direction the world is going, that is doubtful. I am a Christian. That means that I believe in God. It does not mean I am perfect or Christ-like. It simply means that I am a believer. The other stuff still needs some work. A day will come where we can’t say that out loud or on line. Bloggers certainly shouldn’t have a deep opinion about much of importance or then you are cutting out a percentage of your possible base. I don’t care. I am proud of my belief but I don’t beat people over the head with it unless they ask. Being loving is what we are here for. Nothing else. That is why this girl’s letter to me was and still is so important to me. She wanted nothing. She expected nothing. She took a moment to get outside of herself and somehow know that a stranger needed encouragement.
But whoever does not make Me known in front of men and acts as if he does not know Me, I will not make him known to My Father in heaven. MATT 10:33
The mean girl who started all of the hateful drama? I needed to realize that my life looked really good to someone who was struggling with day to day. My biggest problem from the outside was trying to agree on where our next vacation would be. What she didn’t know was how bad my neck pain was and that getting out of bed in the mornings was a job within itself. We all have our burdens. We had a new house, a recent vacation to Paris and I have a really nice looking husband that loves me. That’s what she saw. The sort of Instagram-perfect life. It takes a lot of planning and work to get to point where your life doesn’t suck. I can only assume jealousy and insanity are why she lied all the time about me. Meanwhile she was doing all the types of things she accused me of – sort of like a Democrat. Sorry. Not sorry.
I really have wanted to share that story. The letter is still posted on my fridge today. I always thought people were saying that they were better than others by the term, Daughter of The Most High God. I get it now. She was a Daughter of The Most High. Without a doubt.
Hey everyone! Just a quick shout to say hello and touch base! It has been a super hot summer and it’s a part time job just keeping my plants alive in this heat! And hair?!? How are you expected to have a cute hair style when it’s 100 degrees and humidity is at 75% ? For me, I decided I could wear a hat or two during the week to combat pointless time and effort spent on hair styling!
Although the top and embroidered shorts are from Johnny Was, the hat was from Forever 21! The interesting thing about that, is that I noticed the store was not as full of product as normal…so I asked the Assistant if they were by any chance closing down. He seemed confused and clueless as to why I would think that. I explained that I have worked in retail for years and whenever the product levels decline sharply, it’s typically a huge red flag. He dismissed my theory and mindlessly rang me up and sent me on my way. Here we area a few weeks later and news is leaking that Forever 21 is more than likely filing for Bankruptcy. The China tariffs are the kiss of death for retailers that were already struggling although I agree with the action. For those retailers with not a lot of margin – good luck. The other issue affecting retail is online shopping. When I remodeled our new house, I went into the Z’Gallerie store closest to me, to buy or order my merchandise…sofas, chandeliers, mirrors, etc. Apparently enough people didn’t do the same, so now there is now not a Z’Gallerie near me anymore due to bankruptcy and store closings. I buy from stores when possible and online is my second choice. I hope the Forever 21 news is wrong because who doesn’t love cheap extras now and then!?!
I’m not trying to be cute, I am trying to survive life! My boss said to me at the start of summer…what are you going to do? Wear a top knot every day? She said this after experiencing the humidity in our city and having a series of bad hair days. I try to have fun and would like to think that I have turned surviving humidity and heat into an art form.
Fun things are going on lately. I had ordered a new condo for my dogs (really it’s a custom built kennel) a year ago and it finally was delivered! I have not shared it here yet but I just posted a few pictures on my Instagram. My dogs love it and the quality is much better than I had expected! Wire kennels in my house were killing my soul!
The jury is still deliberating as to whether or not we are taking a vacation later this year. It seems we are insanely attached to our dogs and are reluctant to leave them. When we do go out of town we pay someone to house and pet sit so finding a candidate is sometimes a challenge. Not only that, i had a panic attack like a nut on our way back from Hawaii and I thought they were going to make me get off the flight if I didn’t calm down! I had a neck injury a couple of years ago, and it’s hard to seat in a crammed seat without being able to move very much. I think my mind was anticipating pain and discomfort . Luckily, I had some CBD oil with me for the flight so I took some and was able to get a hold of myself and survive the flight without further incident. Of course the mom thought I was a loon but I explained how my seat had gotten changed and that I typically have to sit where I can move and stretch. Either way, I know that I am having issues wanting to board another super long flight unless it’s first class and I’m properly medicated! We shall see what we decide to do!
My Bosscat Beauty lash orders are trickling in still, and although I can’t support myself with it, I am very proud of each box someone buys, because that is one less dollar for the mink lash industry, since my lashes are animal free!
That’s what I have going on this summer! Just enjoying the spare time I have and trying to set goals for the future!
People often start to tell me about the many t.v. series that they watch each week. I’ve never watched one episode of Game of Thrones, Real Housewives or The Bachelor series – after season 1, so it’s been a while since the bachelor has been on my t.v. screen. While we do have a show or two that we like, we have other interests.
Since I work outside the home, I cherish my free time. I water and trim my plants, hang with the dogs and the yard is my favorite spot to sit and sip coffee while I watch the news. The realnews. Not mainstream propaganda. But I digress! My point is that I do not spend a lot of time being hypnotized by the t.v. set. If I died tomorrow, I’d rather spend my day watching birds sing and fly about – because it’s what’s real, rather than sit in front of the mind control machine being spoon fed liberal insanity. (That AOC chick is clearly not well.) Actually, she’s so not well, it makes me think I actually could run for congress one day. I am at least able to write correctly and use proper grammar. I say that because I actually did read the Green New Deal. It looked like a 6th grader on meth wrote it.
I love the ancient art of homemaking and wanted to share a few photos of my summer cottage. (Yes, I am being funny!) Our home is not a cottage, or maybe it is, I don’t know. What is a cottage?
Well, according to Wikipedia…. A cottage is, typically, a small house. It may carry the connotation of being an old or old-fashioned building. In modern usage, a cottage is usually a modest, often cosy dwelling, typically in a rural or semi-rural location. That’s me!
So I guess that means we have a cottage! Our home is one story, not very large and not at all a modern design on the outside. It has white columns, a covered porch across the front with black shutters at the windows. Very old school Americana. Although the interior is sort of Z’Gallerie meets Versaille..(see it here)…the outside was very basic so I decided to have the outside painted the same charcoal gray color as the inside to create the illusion of decorative continuity and drama. It was a cream color with red brick previously, and although it is darker now, it looks richer and helped to give it a more substantial, customized look.
Each spring, I try to make some yard improvements so that it will keep getting fuller and richer. I hate seeing wooden fence so it is my goal to have it all covered eventually with shrubs, trees or flowers.
I enjoy being home very much and still have more projects going on but I am pleased with how many improvements we’ve made in such a short time on the inside as well as the outside.
I am a bird lover and nature lover, so it’s been a treat to be in a scenario again where I can witness a lot of nature up close. Except for snakes. Snakes are disgusting and have no business in the circle of life. In my humble opinion.
