Smudge Love

I haven't blogged in way too long! I'm sorry you guys! It's been a roller coaster of events around here including the culmination of my eldests junior year in high school and the new found interest and work at a local dog shelter for my youngest daughter and I. For the past few months we've been volunteering every weekend and fostering dogs during the weekdays. It's been very rewarding. Our first dog was a Pit puppy named Brenda. She was adorable and we had her for 2 week until she found a loving family and was adopted. Next we took in Karrie, a chihuahua mix, who we still have today. But in the midst of those two precious pooches we also too in an adorable Sharpei/German Shepherd puppy named Smudge. Smudge captured our hearts very fast with his goofy clumsiness and beautiful puppy ways. I could not part with him but I also knew I couldn't keep him. We already have 5 pets and I want to stand firm as my oldest daughter is about to graduate next year and it feels like time to simplify our lives. So I was blessed to find Smudge a home with friends who live nearby so we can go visit him!
It really is the best of the situation!! Although we miss Smudge, we're so happy he's still in our lives!! I hope you're all having a great summer so far! I'll try to start posting more for you guys!

Puppy Love

What a day!! A few days ago my neighbor found 2 abandoned Black Lab Mix puppies at a construction site. They were undernourished but otherwise healthy. She was considering taking them to the SPCA so I asked if I could first try to find them a home. Today I spent a big chunk of the day doing a little photo shoot and sending out a mass email & posting photos on my Facebook page! Tonight it all paid off when they were adopted by a family with acreage and a 10 year old little boy who lost his 2 year old Lab a few weeks ago when it was hit by a car. I am so happy that these 2 precious little lost babies will bring comfort to a little boy grieving the loss of a pet. They will bring him so much joy and in turn they will have a wonderful new home!

God Is Good!

Turtle Time!!

After stuffing ourselves on Easter, my little girl & I decided to take a walk to get a little post dinner exercise.  As we walked, we came across a baby turtle on a neighbors driveway.  The little gal (we think) was all dried up and crusty and couldn't move~~we both actually thought she might be dead, but being the optimist that  my daughter is, she scooped her up and ran all the way home to get her into some water.  After a few minutes she slowly started to come to life.  My daughter's been asking for a turtle for a long time so, of course, she saw this as an opportunity for a new pet!  She aptly named her "Shelly."  I mean really, how cute is that?!  So after calling the Texas Turtle & Tortoise Conservation folks to get scoop on how to care for little Shelly, we've got her tucked away in a little Tupperware bin filled with water, rocks, turtle food, and leaves.  They explained that due to the water draught here in Texas, the mama turtles are laying their eggs in people's yards and then wandering off to find water.  The babies hatch and then take off looking for mama and water, and then when they can't find either, they die.  So little Shelly is one of the lucky ones as she was found and saved!!  Turns out Shelly is a Snapping turtle...not the best to keep as a pet, so we'll be taking her to the Nature Conservatory that has offered to give her a safe home, in a few weeks.  But for now, my little one is loving her temporary friend, checking out turtle books at the library and becoming quite the little turtle expert!  You never know what a little walk in the neighborhood will bring! 

Hippity Hoppity!

Easter is tomorrow and my little girl asked me last night why the Easter Bunny hasn't brought her the little sugar eggs you can look into for the past few years!?  Yikes!!  I don't remember where I found them?? I'm on the hunt now!!  My house is all decorated but I need to stuff the eggs for the hunt in the morning!  I'm making an English Trifle to take to my sister in laws house!  If it turns out to be fabulous I'll take photos and add the recipe for you!!  Happy Easter!

Keys to My Heart ~~ Piano Shopping

As you know, we moved last year. We renovated big time and moved into our dream home. We've been in for 8 months now, had our 1st Christmas here and it's feeling much like home.  I'm almost all done decorating~~at least to say each room has what it needs to begin looking like a complete room...all except for our front formal living room which I've just not been in the mood to tackle. (I think I was just burned out on decorating.)  Right as you enter our home, the room immediately to the right is barren except for a couch and an antique console which I intend to sell.  I've got quite a few pieces of furniture waiting to be recovered at our upholsterers and I need to tackle the drapes situation (there are none) but I've been dragging my feet.  What I want 1st for the room is a piano for my littlest love, Chloe.  She loves to play the piano and we now have room so I'm piano shopping! 
Now, I don't want to go crazy here. I want a large black polished grand for a super fair price. That's not easy.  Steinways are amazing but I don't quite need something so extravagant for my 11 year old.  But I've been looking all over and I may have found one...I've found a really pretty 6'1" Weber piano that I'm having checked out next week by a piano tech.  If it gets a good grade then I may have a pretty piano in my front room when Chloe comes home from school one day next week!! What a fun surprise that will be! I'll add photos for you!  Once I have the piano I'll move onto the drapes and recovering all the ottomans and chairs.  Then I'll be in good shape in that front room...whew.  I'll keep you posted!!

I'm Baaaaack!

Who said blogging would be easy?!  I have to say, I got a little discouraged and bailed for a bit but I'm back!!  I truly enjoy the writing process so much and I REALLY love connecting with people.  Even though the learning curve here on the blogoshphere feels excruciatingly slow for me...I'm not giving up.  I hope to get more followers to interact with...if you have any tips or advice Please share them with me.  I'm currently looking for a way to add an email subscription link so my friends can see what I write as soon as I post something new.
A LOT has been going on...my youngest started a new school and thankfully, is very happy there.  My eldest is turning 16 this week and we just can't believe she'll be driving soon and off on a whole new chapter of her life!  It's all very exciting and very scary.  I'd love to hear how other mom's waded through these testy waters!  What's the saying? "Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone"  Well, my heart is about to get in a car and drive away, and I'm not too sure I like it.

On a cheerful note it was cool when I woke up this morning!!! Yay!! I'm decorating for Halloween so I'll be sure to add those photos soon!  My little one LOVES this tradition!  She loves to hold up each little seasonal decoration as we pull them from the dusty boxes and oooohhh and aaaahhh over it! "Oh! Remember this one, Mommy??!!!"  It's so much fun for both of us to make our home more festive for the approaching holiday.
Plus, all my seasonal decorations were in a storage facility this time last year, so I missed out on decorating for all the big holidays!  This year I plan to do it up BIG to make up for what I missed last year!  We'll be making our usual Popcorn Balls & Caramel Apples for the neighborhood kids and my "Batini" for the adults!!
My father's been sick a lot this past year but thankfully he's back home and healing from yet another surgery on his new "esophagus."  It's the year anniversary in October of his diagnosis of Esophogeal cancer.  Take care of your esophogus' friends!  If you have reflux or anything of the sort...get to a Dr and get it taken care of! NOW.  Esophageal cancer is awful and I don't wish this on anyone!  Take care of yourselves and the people you love!  I'll be back soon with photos for you!
XOXO

Thanks For Lending A Helping Hand

I wanted to give a shout out to the blogs that were such a huge help to me while I was renovating.  I can't tell you how many hours I poured over decorating blogs at 2am,  reading posts on everything from paint colors, fabrics, upholstered headboards, custom iron bed frames, cabinet hardware, & on & on & on...
I'm not a decorator but knew that if I didn't have a firm hold on exactly what I wanted & could make up my mind on what to do for each & every detail along the way, then someone else would make it up for me and well, that's just NOT how I roll~~
So here are just a few of my favorite decor blogs from whom I've learned so much!

Joni @ http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/  What can I say other than Joni is amazing!  We actually figured out that we've met quite a few years back! Joni's blog is fabulous in that she leaves no stone unturned.  She gives out all kinds of valuable resources and I love her for that!!  Thank you, Joni!  You're a gem!

http://paloma81.blogspot.com/  This blog, La Dolce Vita, is so yummy on so many levels!  It's so varied and fun that I look forward to each post!  I especially love her guests blogs on 10 Things I Can’t Live Without!
Check out her recent post on Houston Decorator, Sally Wheat!  Sally has been featured all over the blogosphere & can be seen on Cote De Texas often.  A friend introduced us & we got together and I now consider her a friend!  Which leads me to my next shout out to:


The fabulous Sally Wheat!  Now sadly, Sally doesn't have a blog, but all you need to do to enjoy  her work is google her name and numerous blogs with links to her photos will pop up!  Sally came over one day during my painting panic and helped calm me down so I could choose colors.  She's a big fan of the lovely Linen Weave and rightly so!  Sally is amazing!


http://decordeprovence.blogspot.com/  Desiree Ashworth was a big inspiration for the style of decor I decided on for my new home.  I had always loved French Country but now I'm turning more towards a Swedish decor thanks to Desiree's absolutely stunning photos of her home!  The green hues throughout her home are so soothing and soft yet thoroughly up to date.  I love her blog!


http://hookedonhouses.net/  Julia is a Twitter friend with a blog that has wonderful links and information about all the set designs for our favorite movie homes!  Remember the great house in "Something's Gotta Give" with Diane Keaton? I LOVE that house! I used Julia's blog to look up details in homes like this and printed out photos to show my builder. From "SGG" I used the idea to make the wood brackets under our bar areas and cabinets.

I love the way they turned out. 

http://www.theletteredcottage.net/  The Lettered Cottage has so much useful information and photography about renovating that I'd be crazy to not mention it here.  Take a peek and scroll away...you'll love it!

And last but not least, I want to mention Erin at http://www.houseofturquoise.com/

My eldest daughter wanted a turquoise bedroom, which was quite a challenge.  I took to the Internet to research colors that wouldn't be too bright or too hospital-ly.  I emailed Erin and asked her for her favorite colors and she responded! She was so sweet to email me back! That's exactly what I love about blogging!  Connecting with old friends and making new ones!  :)

Blog Fog~

I've had a few friends inquire as to my next blog and I have to admit, starting a blog just as I'm about to move into a new home probably wasn't the Best idea I've had lately....Umm...I'M a little busy!!! But I want to exclaim from the roof tops that we are (drum roll please) FINALLY in our house! YAY! AND!...It's fabulous. I'm so happy and truly exhausted at the same time. I honestly feel as if I've just gotten off the Survivor Island. (Only I'm sadly not fabulously survivor tan, nor did I lose all that survivor weight...*heavy sigh*) But let me tell you this, girlfriends...Nothing can make you appreciate a home more than living in a tiny apartment with a crazy woman making massive amounts of noise moving furniture or bowling??~we couldn't figure it out~ at 1, 2, 3, and 4am right over your bedroom EVERYNIGHT! No more cruddy TVMax cable (yes there's a TVMax Cable Co here in Houston....but not for long. They are horrible! Even worse than Comcast! Hard to believe but true!) And as I was trying desperately to make a home away from home for my family with 90% of everything we own in storage, I was deligently trying to cope with my father's battle with cancer. Now if there's something worth sharing it's this...watching people you love go to hell and back will really set you straight on what's important in life. And so I worked to renovate this house into a home that would be a haven for all the people I love. A place to make memories. A resting place with lots of music and laughter and moments to cherish. And so here we are...Home! We now have a lovely home...with a yard for the kids to run in and the dog to chase them in and wine chilling in the fridge for friends to sip on when they drop by (hint, hint!)...oh the joy of joys! So as I unbox my illionth box and ponder how the heck we accumulated SO MUCH STUFF in the past 16 years...I only feel ever so grateful. Thankful for the blessings of my new home...for my children's health and happiness and thankful for a wonderful husband who has worked so hard to get us here. I'm truly blessed~~ XOXO

Happy Easter!

That Easter Bunny sure made a mess around here last night! HUGE news...did you know that if you toss you Peeps in the microwave for about 15 sec they puff up, get really ooey & gooey, and taste like roasted marshallows! I've never been a fan of Peeps but now I do! Yum! What a fun morning...now we're off to church! Have a wonderful day friends!

Pedicures, Pastels, and Pilgrimmages

I really usually enjoy this time of year...the week the majority of my friends head North to conquer the great antique hunt in the big city of Roundtop, Texas/Population: 77. It's a time to get out of Houston and weed through piles of junk & jewels to find just the thing you never knew you couldn't live without! To meet up with all the gals you see all the time in Houston, but still want to stop to chat with in the tents of Marburger. And for all of us natural born bargain hunters...well, it's just plain fun! Alas, this year I have other things in the stars for this week and none of them include traipsing through fields looking for diamonds in the ruff. I'm in the midst of wading the perils of interior paint! So while the majority of everyone I know was perusing Ironstone and vintage linens amidst the tents, there I was the other day, standing at Benjamin Moore waiting patiently to get my glaze, when an adorable young preggo walked up beside me with 2 little toddlers in tow. She was dressed in a pastel Lilly Pulitzer-esque shift dress with the fabric stretched waaaay out over her baby bump and looked ever so fresh and adorable...very ready for Spring! As her 2 crayola toting tots sat on the floor coloring away as mom made her order, I made note of the fact that I was still dressed in my NYC head to toe black. Now make no mistake, I make no apologies for my love of black. I'll wear black anywhere, anytime, in any degree of heat. I LOVE it. It's comfortable & I'm a big believer in uniforms. "No brainers" I call them. Good ol stand by's that require little brain power and can be grabbed, thrown on and get you out the door in a flash. Einstein also was a devotee to the uniform. It's even been rumored that Einstein wore the same thing everyday to save precious cerebral energy for more important things. So you see I'm a lot like Einstein! Einstein and East Coasters... and each year there comes a time when I have to weigh comfort against conformity and I think the time is upon us. Usually for me, comfort wins! So as the steady flow of Houstonives cram their SUV's full of newly found treasures from Round Top and dash homeward through the bluebonnets this week, I can't help but take stock that Spring has Sprung...it's time to dehusk my hooves with a serious pedicure, get out my sandals and make plans to put at least some of my black away. It won't be easy though. Maybe there's a 12 step program somewhere? Oh well ~ parting is such sweet sorrow. I'll miss you my dark friend....if only for a few days before I pull you back out!

Looking For Mrs Doubtfire!

No, I don't mean I'm looking for a man in drag to look after my kids~just a wonderful cleaner/ organizer to help me keep my life and home in proper order. Why is it that housekeepers always seem to flake out right when you need them most? I'm moving in a few weeks and have no help...and no, I'm not a capable grown up that can handle this on my own. I admit it...My name is Stephanie and I NEED help!! I tried out a new gal last week and on her first day nearly drove off the road when she called me and asked me to stop and get her a burger on my way home! Um...WHAT!? I politely told her to make herself a PBJ (Although wondering why she didn't eat lunch before her 12:30 arrival time) and made mental plans on how to give her the boot. To top it off, upon returning home after a LOOOONG day, found 4 loads of WET laundry waiting for me to dry and fold atop my dryer. So there I was folding clothes at 10pm. She was here for 5 HOURS, people! What did she do?? So I'm entering the looking phase again...looking for Mrs. Doubtfire. Someone to swoop in and give a helping hand here. Someone NORMAL...not too much to ask, right?