Back in December it became apparent that our beloved cat, Malcolm, wasn't feeling well.  Truth is, she (yes, she) hadn't been feeling well for a while, but I don't think either of us wanted to really face the fact that she just wasn't herself.  She was still eating well, in fact it was one of her favorite things to do.  I never have met a cat before who would purr while she ate... it really was endearing.  Anyway, it never appeared that she was suffering in any way, but she just wasn't herself.  She was tired and slower than usual, but it was apparent that there was a growth under her first nipple and it was getting bigger.  I had noticed it, we both had and I had been watching it for a while and in the back of my mind I knew what it was.  I didn't research it.  I never Googled it.  I didn't want confirmation of what I knew in my heart was happening here... after all, she still seemed happy and she was eating.  But on the morning of December 23rd, when blood began to seep from her nipple, I knew I had to take her to the vet.  He confirmed all my worst fears, Malcolm had breast cancer.  Considering her advanced age, the size of the tumor and all the other risk involved, he advised me to take her home, enjoy her over Christmas and then bring her back.  Heart broken.  How on earth was I going to tell Rob?  Malcolm was his cat before she became our cat and he was absolutely crazy for her... we both are.  Needless to say, it was a horrible Christmas holiday for us, I say with Mal on my lap just about the entire weekend, held her and hugged her and kissed her and smelled her, because I knew our time was limited.  I could feel my heart breaking and I was hoping she would understand what we had to do for her.  We loved her so much and we would never let her suffer.  So, on December 27th, it started out like any other day, our little morning rituals... special moments that just can't be put into words.  And then we took the longest drive in my life.  I can't even go into what happen at the vets, but Robert, Malcolm and I, we are family and losing her was probably one of the most painful things I have ever been through... there just aren't any words to describe.  But we were all connected and we all made a sound that was painfully clear.  I still look for her.  I miss her so much it actually hurts in a deep place.  

Malcolm is a Scottish or Gaelic name, meaning follower or devotee of the dove and the dove is usually Saint Columa.  And it was the name of the prince of Scotland who became king after Macbeth murdered his father.

Our Malcolm was dove grey, soft as a bunny, had the attitude of a diva and was a prince (or rather princess) among cats.  We were fortunate to be her pet parents... honored really.  She was a very fine cat indeed.

Dear Lizzy: December Daily SC Kit Giveaway

Dear Lizzy: December Daily SC Kit Giveaway

Dear Lizzy along with Ali Edwards and those talented peeps over at Studio Calico are doing a Giveaway.  Click on the link above and see what Lizzy is up to.  Good luck!!!

TOXIC!

I was catching up on one of my (many) blogs I follow, this afternoon, and the topic was natural skin care products; things like shampoos, conditioners, lotions, soaps, lipstick… etc., and the fact that she (Elise Blaha) has been slowly changing out her usual products for more earth friendly products and less toxic products. She found this cheat sheet from the book There’s Lead in Your Lipstick, and as she ran out of a product, she replaced it with a better product.

Well, I went to Pure Anada natural cosmetics website and there was a link towards the bottom to Gillian “Gill” Deacon’s website… she’s the author of There’s Lead in Your Lipstick and she’s also a breast cancer survivor. Apparently there are more toxins in the products we use, then we are aware of and WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF IT. If you go to her site, you can download the “cheat sheet” to print out. It’s a nice wallet sized tip sheet with a guide to the best brands and their web addresses and a list of the toxins to avoid.

Just at first glance I realized that my favorite shampoo has at least 12 of these listed toxins in it. TWELVE! Out of 26 listed ingredients, 12 of them are toxic… no wonder when it got in my eye’s one morning, I thought I was going to go blind it burned so badly. By the way, this isn’t a cheap shampoo, it’s a salon shampoo that I switched to, because I had almost killed my hair with some less expensive shampoo from Target, that according to my stylist, had paraffin (as in wax) in it and it was stripping and killing my hair. So, she recommended this rather pricey shampoo… granted, my hair looks great, better than it has in years. But 12 toxins… that just freaks me out!

So, this made me do a little Google searching... and I found http://www.gorgeouslygreen.com/.  Sophie Uliano has written three books:



From what I've seen of the reviews on Amazon, the books are really good and the website is really nice.  I'm interested in reading Gorgeously Green and Do It Gorgeously... I know it's just not practical for me to go completely green, but I'd like to be greener.  I'd certainly like to not be using toxic products on my body and in my home.  We have a cat... an older cat... so if I'm cleaning the house with products that "take my breath away," what must it be doing to her.  Makes you think.

OK, something to think about.  Happy Friday!  Be good to yourself.

Painted Funiture and Framed Jewelry

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What can I say about this picture... other than I want to recreate it!  I want to paint my dresser black, replace the metal knobs with glass one's, and create works of art from my jewelry!  I love this look.  Thank you, once again, http://www.bhg.com/, for inspiration!

Fast and Fabulous Decorating Projects

Fast and Fabulous Decorating Projects

I get newsletters from Better Homes and Gardens (http://www.bhg.com/) and they are always sending creative links and eye candy to get the creative juices flowing.  Well, today was no exception... Fast & Fabulous Decorating Facelifts.  Who can pass up a teaser e-mail like that?  So, I'm clicking through all of the wonderful BHG photographs when I come across this one (above) and I'm thinking, "Here's something to do with all my newly acquired milk glass!"  Remember, a few weeks back, I told you I went a little crazy on eBay... that's another post.  Anyway, I'm thinking I might have to do something along these lines to show off my milk glass.  Because the milk glass tends to be a bit "plain" in my husbands opinion, you really have to jazz up the display with color and I love the black bookcase with the wall paper inserts.  Now, I've always wanted to paint a piece of furniture black and distress it... so that's an easy one there.  BUT choosing a wall paper or fabric design, now, that's going to be tricky!!!

Eames Chairs

I love Eames chairs. And I’m not so snobby that I can’t love a good knock-off of an Eames chair. Those clean lines get me every single time! Well, any mid-century modern chair does it for me, but there is just something about an Eames. And here’s a little bit about the Eames’… Charles Ormond Eames, Jr (1907–1978) and Bernice Alexandra "Ray" Eames née Bernice Kaiser (1912–1988) were American designers, who worked in and made major contributions to modern architecture and furniture. They also worked in the fields of industrial and graphic design, fine art and film. For more (very interesting) facts about Charles and Ray Eames, click on over to Wikipedia and read about their life and work. There is a really neat picture of their design concept house. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, and I love creative people.

Anyway, Eames chairs, I ran across this fabulous before & after of the Eames knock-off on the Design*Sponge website. FAB-U-LOUS! Take a look. For your convenience, I’ve added some pictures here:

I’ve also added some pictures of a few of my favorite Eames chairs (all photos from Room and Board) that no house should be without. Because let’s face it, they go with every décor... in my humble opinion… in fact, every home should have at least one piece of Eames… something, to call it complete.  Sorry for the run on's.  I'm the queen of the ...'s, but I love them so.

Jennifer Rizzo Giveaway

Jennifer Rizzo - The Winter Nesting Giveaway

Number 79 Tea Towel

Various tea towels

The Winter Nesting Giveaway

The Winter Nesting Giveaway includes a vintage picnic basket filled to the brim with goodies.

The winner will receive: 

1- in flight pillow cover

1-white linen La Parisien pillow cover

3-number towels

3-french inspired tea towels

3-tea time tea towels

1-set of vintage inspired cloth napkins

1-hat and fingerless glove set

1-set (4) of tea plates

1-set(2) of vintage ironstone mugs

1-vintage book

organic tea

lavender sugar

In Flight Pillow Cover

I love sweet pleasures.  I love creative people.  I love it when the two collide!  Jennifer Rizzo is a woman after my own heart.  She has a line of products that are absolutely fabulous.  I love the In Flight pillow cover and the Number 79 tea towel.  Anyone that knows me knows I have a thing for anything with the No. 7 on it.  Anyway, Jennifer is doing a fabulous giveaway on her blog for a picnic basket over-flowing with some of the most beautiful items I have ever seen.  Click on over to her blog for full details and then over to Etsy to check out her shop.  Honestly, I want a little bit of everything.  I can see these items as Christmas presents for sure.  Remember, it's vital to support our small business owners.  Not only are you buying quality one of a kind items, you are supporting someone's dream... how amazing is that!

Ghost Chairs

I love Ghost Chairs.  Period.  I want a Ghost Chair, in fact, I want two Ghost Chairs, but I'll be happy with one.  I love the fact that they don't take up a lot of visual space, and when you live in a small house, like I do, that's HUGE!  I found some great pics on Willow Decor that show some great room examples using the Ghost Chair and then of course there is Pinterest, which is always a wealth of eye candy!

Check out these pretty pictures from Willow Decor:

Ghost Chair Metamorphosis:

 

And these from Pinterest:

Now, what I really get excited about is that in some of these pictures, you can't even see the chair!  But it's there!  I love color, believe it or not (I know I've posted a lot of WHITE pictures), but when it comes to the Ghost Chair, I'm a traditionalist... I think it should be clear - clear.  The translucent blacks and greens and pinks are nice, but for me, I want clear.  Honestly, I'd take any of these rooms!

 

Halloween Wreath

So, the other day I posted (posted?)... whatever... about Making Memories Halloween wreath that was created by Making Memories designer Leah Fung.  I loved it!  LOVED it!!!  I knew instantly that it was something that I was going to have to do and so on Friday afternoon, I went to my local, newly designed, Michal's and bought a few things that I would need... i.e. the foam wreath and some Halloween paper.  Now, I know this was/is a Making Memories project and that probably dictates that I should have used all Making Memories products... but when I saw all of the Martha Stewart Halloween products, I knew what my wreath was going to be made from... I just love Martha!  So, here's a quick look at my supplies:

OK, I promised you some short-cuts for this project and I'll keep my promise.  Now, the MM instructions said to cut 1/4 inch strips of paper.  Well, I have to tell you, the idea of doing that was not a fun idea at all.  I had 7 sheeds of 12 x 12 inch double sided designer paper and I just could see my hand cramping after a few minutes of doing that and this was a project I wanted to finish in a weekend.  Then the light bulb went on!  Hmmm... I have a paper shredder!  Let's test a sheet.  B-I-N-G-O baby!  It's perfect.  I had to cut the sheets in half to fit the shredder and then it was just feed, feed, feed.  Next, came the teedious part of rolling the papers around a pencil.  This is the next short-cut.  Find a friend :)  Mine was my hubby... we watched our Friday night shows and rolled Halloween papers.  Yes, I do realize how lucky I am!!!  After that, it was just glue, glue, glue.  Be sure to have some kind of stick to help you tamp down the ends of your paper... save your fingers, because that glue is HOT!

I used a 3 1/2 inch scalloped circle punch for the black and orange circles that went around the back of the wreath.  I started out with just the black, but it just looked too thin, so I beefed it up by adding the oranged to it... so it was black, orange, black, orange... etc.  Plus, the black and orange papers are glittered, so it really picks up the light.  I love it.

After all the curls were glued into place, the fun really started, glueing the buttons and candy stickers and signs...  The buttons were a bit too lost in the curls so I used a small scalled circle punch on the remaining orange glitter paper and glued the buttons to the paper and the paper to the curls... looks fabulous!

On one of the sheets of paper were various "signs" I cut them out and glued them all over the wreath along with the candy stickers  the signs have glitter on them as well, so they pick up light too.

Really fun project, super easy and can be done in a weekend.  Not too expensive to make... especially if you already have most of the supplies on hand.  I went for double sided paper, which tends to be more expensive, but I wanted the "look"... you know, more bang for my buck.  No white showing from the underside of the paper.  Great project for the kids to help you with... just don't let them near the glue gun, because that thing is HOT!

Again, this is totally a Making Memories project, designed by Leah Fung, this is just my interpretation of it.  I hope you like it.