Kansas City Here we come

While many of you are heading to the Farm Chicks Show in Washington, I will be heading to points more Midwest.

Kansas City has been our destination for the past four years. The first full weekend of June has indicated “Girls Trip” to some of my best friends. The numbers have changed over the years but the core three has remained the same.

Peggy, Frances and I are hitting the road once again to sample some more of the best shopping Kansas City and its surrounding areas have to offer. Our map is larger this time and our focus has expanded.

In years past, Mary Carol Garrity of Nell Hills has hosted a blow out warehouse sale. Women from all over the area, including us nuts from Chicago, descended upon the small town of Atchison, Kansas. (By the way Atchison was also home to Amelia Earhart…Amy Adams would be better according to my husband. )

For some reason this year Mary Carol has decided not to have the warehouse sale, instead she will be hosting an open house at her historic home in Atchison. I must ask her why she decided against having such a madhouse this year, was it our driving up with a U-Haul attached to the back of our Suburban last year? HUMMMM the fact that we filled the whole thing and didn’t break our bank accounts???

What ever the case is…we will miss getting up at 3:00 in the morning, waiting in line until the doors open at 9:00, doing the mad dash to grab as much stuff as you can, get it all outside to your waiting friends and collapse with a sign of accomplishment by 9:30. It was more fun than you can ever imagine.

So as we travel through Kansas and Missouri this weekend I will up date you on the our find and adventures.

Currently, we are sitting in the airport with the nicest lady who just happens to be an interior designer…who is coming back from LA…Frances is getting the scoop on that while I sit and type away.

One of our first stops today is Curious Sofa….stay tuned.

Sorry no pics...I gotta sleep...yikes

Off to Country Living Women Entrepeneurs...

If anyone is attending this event...I will be there.

Navy Pier....Chicago, Illinois
I am really looking forward to meeting some blogging friends and learning more about what it will take for me to be successful.
My brain is ready willing and able.
Have my camera by my side and I promise to report back on all the fun things I learn.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend as well!!!!

Hot off the Press...

...FINISHED

Just in the nick of time....Teacher's Magic Wands!

I just finished my teacher's gifts. My guys have their last day of school on Friday and can you believe this ...ONE HOUR on Monday.

These wands have been on my mind for a long time ... ever since Christmas when I found these beautiful apples.

Each wand is different ... I wish I could show you better detail but my camera isn't that good.

I have two additional wands available and will be selling them for $35.00 if anyone is interested. They will look very similar to these but will have their own feeling. If anyone needs one in a pinch just let me know, I can get it out asap.

I just hope each teacher knows how much magic they hold ... every time they hold the wand they will feel the love in their heart grow. The love they have imparted on my children has been absolutely amazing and this will be a reminder of how special they are.

Thank you TEACHERS for all that you do!

Favorite Bloggers....passing on the award

There are too many favorites for me to pick..
But since I have to ...here are just a few. I really can't tell you how much I have grown as a person just by reading all of your thoughts, opinions, creative ideas and anything else you have on your mind.

So to you I pass on the Kreativ Blogger Award.
For keeping me on my toes and my brain a working!

Delightful Home
http://thedelightfulhome.blogspot.com/
Ms T
Nice and Easy Antiques
http://niceandeasyantiques.blogspot.com/
Cottage Charm and Family Inspiration
Clara and Marcela
Firefly Hill
http://fireflyhilldesigns.blogspot.com/
Annie
Everyday Beauty
http://velvetstrawberries.typepad.com/andreasingarella/
The Wild Raspberry
http://thewildraspberrysisters.blogspot.com/
Chasity, Shauna and Deborah
Patina Soul
http://patinasoul.blogspot.com/
Fawn Hamilton
Vintage Grace
http://michellegraceblog.blogspot.com/
Michelle Grace
Tied up Memories
http://tiedupmemories.blogspot.com//
Tracy
Acorn Cottage
http://homeatacorncottage.blogspot.com/
Nancy
MamaNeena
http://www.mamaneena.com/
Christina aka Neena
Crazy Lady on Road 80
http://crazyladyonroad80.blogspot.com/
Jan
Shell in your pocket
http://shellinyourpocket.blogspot.com/
Sandy Toes

THANK YOU !!!

To all of those that every day defend our country and it's freedoms!

We Salute You!

Give aways, awards and swaps...oh my

I feel so out of the loop. I have been so busy in the garden and not at my computer. My days are not the same if I don't visit you guys and all the inspiration you provide me...so tonight is my night to pull up a chair, a glass of wine and catch up with you.

Before I do that I must mention a few things you might find interesting....

Don't forget: Tonight is the last night for Tara's Give Away at Blonde in SC...she has featured four outstanding creative talents who kindly agreed to donated something to Tara's Giveaway
If you never visited Tara before, you will find that she is a witty spirit that brings a smile to your face every time you read her posts.

Secondly: I wanted to mention that I am in a new swap....my first one to be exact and I am really excited. Lori at Morning Glories and Moonflowers is hosting a Nancy Drew swap. When I saw the post about the Nancy Drew Series, I had to smile from ear to ear.

You see as a young girl, my best friend Connie Kiefer and I use to read these books. I would have to say Connie read most of them and I just puttered along. We were even pictured in the local news paper for our avid affection of both the library and Nancy Drew.

I finished reading my assigned selection, The Clue of the Tapping Heels, last night. My mother would have been so proud, finished in under two hours.

It's time to prepare for the real fun...swapping. I have never participated in a swap before, so I am a little nervous. I don't want to let my two partners down. Lea from Alemeda, California and Kathy from Miami, Florida . Girls, please know I am trying my best to send you something that will make you smile. If anyone has some ideas, please share them with me.

Finally: I was bestowed a wonderful honor by a very creative person from Michigan.
Sue from Chic Cottage Junk gave me the Creative Blogger Award.

I had always wondered what it was all about and now I finally understand. I feel very honored that Sue thought of me :) (So does The Accountant) Thanks Sue!!!! You really made my day!

Please check out her blog, her repurposed "junk" is out of this world. I think I need to have one of these bird cage organizers!!!

So as part of this award I am suppose to give it away to Seven other wonderful bloggers that I follow, I am to leave them a comment and then post their blogs here. I am also to write seven things I am grateful for....

That is a tall order for tonight...so I promise tomorrow after all my running around I will post seven of my favorite blogs (that proves to be very daunting task at this point since I think my favorites file is filled with over 100) and the seven things I am most thankful for. It will have much better detail this way, I promise.

Have a great night everyone...I am off to the Doc tomorrow to do a little more research on my mysterious illness that has been still lurking around. All those allergy patches we did yielded nothing. We did a biopsy on one of the multiple "spots" which only told us it was something internal. It could be a virus, it could be a medication that I am taking or something else that we just don't know. I can follow up with that tomorrow as well, since I feel a long winded post coming :)
GOOD NIGHT FINALLY....

Thank you BIG SIS!!!

This weekend I received such a sweet surprise! A package arrived with the daily mail and The Accountant immediately accused me of too much shopping... once again.

Much to my delight it was a gift from my Big Sister, Sheila R. from Blessed and Distressed.

Now I was not "blessed" with a sister in my childhood but I have gained one through Silver Bella. Yes, its a double blessing. I am going in November to this unbelievable event in Omaha, Nebraska and I have a big sister to help me through.

For all of us that are attending our first "Bella" we have been given the opportunity to have a Big Sister who has been through the program before. I will no longer be "distressed" about attending this event alone. Sheila has offered to get me prepared ahead of time and help me navigate the waters once I arrive.

The creations that Sheila posts on her blog..Blessed and Distressed...I know I am in for a world of learning and inspiration.

The chatter and camaraderie before this event is just an unbelievable experience. The excitement grows each day and everyone is helping us Freshman prepare for this great event.

Thank you Sheila for the gift...it made me feel part of the group already and its only May.