My Disappointment Tale

I mentioned in the last post about a disappointment. Well, I'm here to tell you about it today.

But first a bit of eye candy for you. I don't like just reading print with no photos so I always share something pretty to show you. But Caroline wasn't ready to skype with me tonight or send me any pix, so you're stuck with a couple of things I found in a magazine. ;-) These pix speak of love and renewal. Isn't this memory board pretty? I have several around my house.

This one reminds me that spring is just a couple of weeks away and we can get little flowers to pot in a few weeks also. Now, wouldn't these little jars tied with pretty hankies and wrapped with wire to hang from the patio look just adorable? I'll be making some of these for sure.

Well, these two old geezers aren't very pretty but they are me and Love Bunny about 25 years ago. And yes, he still wears silly/goofy hats. This one looks like it's too big for his head but someone gave it to him and he wore it. I've since thrown it away.

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Remember when I said I ordered an Italian Version of Rosetta Stone. It arrived Thursday and I opened it up. There were several desks with it, actually a LOT! The first one is the application disk to load on and then you can load the disks with the various levels of the language as you progress. I loaded the first, but when I started the Italian language disks they wouldn't load. I called the company and got a man in India who was well spoken, but he couldn't figure out some things as I told him and after a few minutes put me in touch with his superior in the U.S. That lady asked me a few questions and I answered and she said I had a pirated version and couldn't help me. It came from Beijing, China. Nothing I can do. I though I was on Rosetta Stone website but it was a "discount Rosetta Stone" site that had nothing to do with Rosetta Stone except pirate their software and not work for me at least. $188.00! I was miffed and am filing a dispute with Paypal to try to recuperate my money. But truly I'd like to keep and and use it to learn another language - Italian. So now I'm warning you to be sure you are on the actual website when you are wanting to purchase something. I feel like a fool for falling for something like this. I'm usually very astute with things like this. The website looked like Rosetta Stone and when I googled RS at first to find Rosetta Stone, it was one of the first websites to come up so my suspicions weren't raised. So if I can be fooled, you can be fooled also. So be very careful, my friends.
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Pink Saturday 2/26/2011

Welcome to my Pink Saturday post again. To visit all the participants, go to Beverly's blog by clicking on the logo below.
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I've been busy and had a big disappointment, which I'll go into detail about in another blog post, so I'm scrambling today to find pink to share again with you.

This is a little bird cage I bought and shabby froufrou-ed up. I simply put some faux grass and tiny birds in there with tiny roses that aren't quite visible to you and then hung it with pink curling ribbon, which is tremendously cheap and quite decorative in the house.

This little painting was for sale on ebay and didn't sell. I can't remember the name of the artist now but I contacted her later and asked if it was still for sale. She said that she'd just give it to me! She included the darling frame and the picture and didn't even charge me for postage. The generosity of some people still astounds me. What a charming woman she is. I just love this little teacup picture and its frame. I am a truly blessed chick and most grateful to her for this gift.

I love this little cottage print and can't remember where it came from, but isn't it cute?

While these crystal stemware glasses aren't pink, the paper in the background is. I used it to line the back of our humble china cabinet when we moved into this house 6 years ago. I also trimmed the edges by tacking snippets of vintage lace onto the shelves. I don't get rid of any lace if there is a possible use for it. And these was.

Just a closeup of a few different patterns of our crystal.

These 2 glasses were bought at a neighbor's yard sale when they died. They were both very close to us and died with days of each other. Hubby went over because I couldn't bear to go through their things. He bought these 2 crystal goblets and they are the thinnest and most delicate goblets I've ever held. I am extremely careful with them when we use and then wash them. All by hand, of course.

Love Bunny isn't necessarily a romantic guy but while shopping last week he suggested we buy some of these $5 bouquet of flowers. I didn't disagree of course. Sweet of him.

These two knobs are ones my daughter gave me several years ago. I'd like to make some like them but I'm just being lazy lately so it'll have to wait until I feel like it. I have no clue what I'd do with them, but the pursuit would be as sweet as the rose knobs I think.

I finally added a bit of white trim around the bottom of this lamp shade and got roses almost around the whole thing. I've run out of these particular paper roses and won't be able to finish until I get more. Very hard to find also.

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Just a few more rooms to drool over. Imagine your little princess in this room. Heck, I'd take it for myself and put in a queen size bed and get rid of the toys...maybe. ;-) These are all Ethan Allen rooms.

And for your little heroes, this darling bedroom that would probably take him into his teens.

Oh my stars, be still my heart! On second thought, I'd probably prefer this one with the nook off the master suite. Is this not gorgeous?

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A Serious/ Sirius Problem and iPhone

First of all, the eye candy. :-) Miss Caroline walking around the island counter top in her mummy's kitchen with her new shoes on. This is absolutely her most favorite thing to do, and you'd better have shoes on your feet when she's doing this or serious consequences will follow—to your feet!

She's getting a lot more hair and is such a happy baby.

A few days ago hubs and I (okay, so it was me, not him) decided we wanted Sirius radio. Last summer when our truck was in the shop for repairs we were given a rental car—a Hyundai—and since we had planned on going back to California to visit our daughter and son, we used the Hyundai to travel there. It was a Sonata and had Sirius radio in it. I fell in love. It was so nice going across the Idaho, Oregon, Nevada desert with a radio that sounded great all the way across that I decided I wanted to get one. So small feat as you'll see.

Remember, we have had no television in this house for about 25 years so we have no idea how they even work now. Clueless! I'm computer literate, not television, DVR, Tivo, cable or anything about televisions. I can't even turn one on now because both my kids have remotes to control everything in one remote and they're somehow connected to other things in their houses also. Truly, I don't even know how to turn it on, much less switch channels.

So after a call to Best Buy to ask about Sirius XM radios and how they work, we set off to buy one. Little did we know. We've now made 4 trips to Best Buy (to buy and return certain things because the advice from 4 different people was scattered, to say the least!) and one to Wal Mart to get this set-up to work. So far it's been a couple of hundred dollars just so I can listen to some programs we don't get here locally anymore. This is what the actual radio looks like, very tiny.

Here it is with the Dock and speakers for it. We could have played it through one of the 5 radios in this house but NONE of them has an audio input on it. They're only maybe 10 years old, the oldest one, but not one of them would work for it so we had to get the Dock for it. This will also transfer to the car when we travel. Great sound. I'm really loving it.

Love Bunny has wanted an iPhone for several years but we decided to wait for the iPhone 4. At first, I couldn't justify the extra money for the Verizon data package and just about decided to get an iPod for him, but he is the king of this domain and works hard for us, so I surprised him with this last week. I bought it, brought it home and stuck it in my desk drawer and called him in here to "help me figure something out" (a ruse, of course) and then, as he sat down, I said, "With your new iPhone." He thought I said iPod as that was what he was thinking in his head, and when I corrected him and said it was an iPhone I thought he was going to lose it. He was so happy and just beamed and thanked me. Now, I get to watch him download Apps all night long onto it. Such fun. Sigh.....

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Home Parties

A few years ago I was invited to a Scentsy party by a woman in our ward. I had no clue what Scentsy was so I declined. When I joined the Church some years ago I was invited to every home party you can think of: Princess crystal, candles of every kind, Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, lingerie, Pampered Chef, jewelry, etc. You name it and I received an invitation to it. I wondered if I had fool written across my forehead. Oh, I'd be polite and buy something, usually the cheapest thing on the list just to get out of there. But it didn't take long for this fool to get wise. I finally declined after a friend and I had enough stuff from those parties to start a new home. Truthfully, I was just trying to be nice and try to fit in a new place, church, etc. It wasn't my usual habit to attend home parties like that. I started declining the invitations and when I moved here 6 years ago I made it clear that I was fully stocked on anything they were selling and didn't do home parties. That's worked out well.

Then one day about 2 years ago now I had a doctor's appointment with a doctor and his reception room smelled wonderful. I asked the receptionist what it was and she said Scentsy and showed me the warmer and how to change the wax and all about it. I was sold and worked diligently to find a Scentsy representative. And as they say, I've never looked back. Noooooo, I do not and will not sell it, but I tell anyone who will listen how great this stuff is. And the headquarters for it is right here in Idaho, just down the road about 10 miles. Even better. I can support my state's own economy.

So if you've never heard of it, let me be the first to tell you it's the best, cleanest way to scent your home. I LOVE it! And I think you would also. I seriously doubt you'll be disappointed at all. They are simply wonderful. I get NO compensation for telling you anything here.

I have a plug-in in my living room.

And a full size warmer in my kitchen, which actually transfers fragrances pretty much all over our home.

These are just some of the fragrances. I believe there are over a hundred of them and I've smelled them all. My favorites are:

Lush Gardenia - oh, you'll not believe how wonderful it is.
Beach
Twilight
Clean Breeze
Flirtatious
French Kiss
Enchanted Mist
Inner Peace
Pima Cotton

Those scents more than any others just make your house smell good naturally—just a fresh clean smell. I like the baking scents also, but I don't buy them because I don't want people to think I'm baking. I hate baking!! Or cooking! ;-) Just want it to smell good and my granddaughter has told me she wants her house to smell just like mine. I gifted her with a full size warmer and a plug in while we were there recently and she was thrilled. When you grandchildren notice your house smells so good you know you're doing something right.

Just a few of the scents:

Just thought you'd like to see a new one I really like. Pretty blue and brown.

My full size one is the Renaissance one below. They have them in all colors and every single decorating style you can imagine.

French, Italian, religious, sports, military, beachy, whimsical, woodsy, everything.

These are coming out the first of March and I guess you can see which ones I'll be buying for th' house, right? I can't wait.

Just thought this was a gorgeous shade of blue also. Claudia, are you listening? I know you love blue.

Pamper yourself. Go buy one.
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Doing Laundry and Random Thoughts Pink Saturday 2/19/2011

Like most women I do the laundry in our house because I want to. I'm better at it plus I'm sure hubs appreciates me for it. Most of it is pink is some form or another. Who woulda guessed, huh? ;-)

I like thin white washcloths for our bath. I did some appliques to add color to them.

These are the everyday towels for our master bathroom. So far I've given away about 3-4 dozen towels and I still have enough to last me the rest of my life. Why do we collect so many towels? And I do NOT buy cheap towels. I love them soft and very thick. The 3-4 dozen I got rid of I gave to our granddaughter and sold some to a lady on Craigslist for $20 for 14 of them I believe. She was thrilled.

Two of our bath mats for our bathroom. I have 4 total for that room because I wash them regularly but hate to step out onto a bare floor. I like very thick white cotton—on both sides. No rubber-backed rugs for me. I put the extra bunny on top of the washer. While in Washington state visiting our great granddaughter last week I took 2 bunnies to her. Her mummy put them around the house for her to see and crawl over to them and investigate them. I thought it was a clever idea. She tucked them behind potted plants peeking out for Caroline to find.

Many years ago in California at Macys a sales clerk told me about some stuff they sold at the clothing and lingerie counters to get stains out really well. I bought a gallon and it lasted me for years and really was wonderful, but had a hard time finding it here in Idaho. It is call Z-out. So a friend told me about Tide Stain Release. She said it got everything out of her clothing. So I bought it several months ago and tried it on some old stained cotton T-shirts. Some were oil stains washed in for a long time. I just sprayed and voilà the shirts came out sparking clean. I was truly amazed and use it all the time now. Great stuff and I don't get a thing for saying this. Try it.

Just a very closeup shot of my Wash and Iron wood letters in my laundry.

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Random Thoughts:

Hubby wore a pink tie and shirt to a get-together recently and a man said that he had a beautiful tie but he couldn't wear a pink tie. Hubs said, "It's been my experience that only men who are insecure in their masculinity are afraid of pink shirts." (Because he wears a lot of pink and red, purple and flamboyant colors.) The man said, "Oooooh, no, I don't have that problem." ;-) Shut him right up.
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Then tonight he put on a pair of beige pants and a gray sweater. I just looked at him and said, "There goes a fashion faux pas out the door." He laughed, but he put a coat over it. I dress that man to the nines when we shop! I guess I had to let him have his day, right? "-)
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What is it with these chicks that want to increase their booty size? For Pete's sake, I've been trying to reduce mine for years. I read that one young woman died from the procedure. I don't think a beautiful booty is worth dying for.
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In the lexicon for women: Mall = Girl Country. If you're even in trouble, just run to the nearest indoor mall and yell "wife beater" loudly and see how many women and men come to help you out. They'll beat the mugger so badly he'll wish he'd never been born!
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Children: men who have been in bed with the flu.
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I love our new state of Idaho, but there are many, many neighborhoods where the lawn ornaments are Detroit F-250. It ought to be made illegal for Detroit to make lawn ornaments!
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Precision matters in the law, brain surgery and lipliner/eyelash.
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Mystery has an appeal that documented fact will always lack.

Until next time, chicks. :-)
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Fluffing the House Today

Today I thought I'd be domestic and fluff up the house. While doing it I took the opportunity to photograph snippets of the place. If you're bored then come back another day because things don't change much around the "living beautifully" household. I've committed to economizing and not buying a bunch of stuff we don't need: plates, knick-knacks, glasses, pretty boxes, etc. In fact, I've been eagerly trying to get rid of some china, some glasses and other stuff.

I also have a plethora of napkin rings I have to get rid of. I think I'll put them on ebay and see how it goes. These are the only ones I'm keeping though because I won't need more than these if I have a dinner and I'm not sentimental over most things.

A very, very few books on my bookshelves. Whether you're a listener of Dr. Laura or not, that woman is spot on with her advice. My hubby bought me this book of hers and told me to read it. I learned more about men than I ever have. Hubby requested a talk after I finished reading it. You're never too old or never married too long to learn! An astounding book. Men really are simple creatures. It's us women who tend to be complicated!

I have a lot of Alexandra Stoddard's books. You can see where I got the title for my blog. She was my inspiration.

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Things to consider when building a pool

Having made the decision to install a swimming pool in your backyard there are still plenty of things to think about and plenty of steps to take before you can take your first refreshing dip. Before you even contact a pool builder it is a good idea to research a little about design and construction options. You also need to think about how you will maintain your pool. Without the right pool pump and cleaner, your lovely crystal clear oasis will soon be less than appealing. Here are a few of the things you need to consider when planning your backyard pool.

Pool type

There are a number of different types of swimming pool available, each one with its own pros and cons. Above ground pools are cheap and simple to install, but are less aesthetically pleasing than other options. Fibreglass pools are good for complex designs, but are expensive to install and have limitations in terms of size and depth. Concrete pools are another potentially pricey option, but they are hard wearing and offer flexibility in terms of design. Vinyl lined pools are not as long lasting but they are cost effective solution and are very easy to maintain. No one type of pool is better than another. The key is to work out your priorities and match them to the right pool option.

Pool design

With the variety of pool types and materials available these days comes increasing flexibility in terms of design. You may decide that you want to opt for a simple conventional rectangular pool, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However if the shape of your backyard, or your creative vision, dictates something different you will almost certainly be able to find a pool builder to bring your design to life. This is a very important step in the process that will dictate the appearance of your pool, and most likely your entire backyard.

Additional features

Do you want to include any additional features in your pool, such as a water feature or spa. This kind of decision needs to be made at the same time as the overall pool design and it will impact significantly on the type of pool you choose.

Saltwater or traditional chlorine

In recent years saltwater pools have become more popular and they certainly do have some advantages over traditional chlorine pools. Many people find the relative lack of chlorine (saltwater pools are not completely chlorine free) makes for a more pleasant swimming experience that is gentler on the skin. On the other hand maintaining a saltwater pool can be expensive and the salt can cause damage over time to the lining of your pool, as well as cement, masonry and underwater lights.

Pool maintenance

Once your pool is ready for use you will want to keep it in good condition and make sure that the water is clean and clear. Therefore you need to choose the right pool cleaner, cover and pump for your swimming pool. 

Landscaping

Will you be integrating the pool into a wider landscaping project? If you are planning to landscape your backyard, it is a very good idea to put the pool in at the earliest stage, as it is a very disruptive process. You can take the opportunity to incorporate your pool design into a wider design aesthetic, so that it blends in effortlessly with the landscape in your backyard.

Parlate Italiano ed Alcuni Pensieri Casuali

Happy Valentine's Day to every one of you!
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I've been recuperating from a sinus infection for the past several days and haven't posted much lately so tonight I thought I'd get off my backside and post. Please, no pity; I'm just fine. And we need a lift this time of year with some eye candy roses from last year's roses in our garden plus this little cutie of ours from last week when we were visiting her. You KNOW she's the apple of my eye when I let her chew/teethe on my camera lens cover!

I've been sitting around lately not doing much of anything and that's just fine with Love Bunny. (He's very accommodating and sensitive to me when I'm suffering with this.) Anyway, I've been reading almost non-stop. I found the writer Daniel Silva and bought every single book he's written. I just love his spy/espionage books. And that brings me to something I've been thinking about for some time.

I want to learn another language. I took Spanish and French in high school and college, but if you don't speak it regularly you forget it. But this time after reading the Silva books I've decided to learn Italian. I bought the Rosetta Stone Italian package and am very excited to get it in the mail. (I know I should spend time on genealogy but I just want something fun to do right now and will put genealogy on the back burner for a short period of time.) This is something I'll do for fun.

I cannot take any credit whatsoever for these gorgeous roses. I do NOT have a green thumb. Hubs does all the work; I just pick them and photograph them. Aren't they gorgeous to be viewing them this time of year? I can't wait till this year's crop blossoms in a few months.





Oh, this is the peony bush in our back yard. I hope to get more but these take so long to start blossoming!

I made this and when I opened it up it was goofed up so I took it apart and it is sitting on my sewing table in pieces at the moment. I may even get busy and try putting it back together properly. Sigh...


Oh, btw, that title means "Do you speak Italian and Random Thoughts." See I'm already learning something from a man in our ward who served a mission in Italy! ;-)
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