Mrs. McGillicutty

I was not drawn to this dress for myself but loved the detailed embellishments over the rich brown color and thought... gee, Mrs. Mc could use a new dress. I found it in the designer section of my little thrift store and the color tag that day put this dress at a cool 99 cents! So why not!




Check out the exquisite hemline. So fun and flirty. So summery and southwest. So ric rac vintage.



One of the perks of Mrs. Mc is draping my measuring tapes around her neck for easy access.





She's a trooper all right, always willing to lend a .... ummm... a neck... when you need one.
And really, who doesn't wish they had a neck when they... ummm... need one.

sugar cubes

How cute is this Hallmark greeting card! Found this packaged card at my little thrift store for 50 cents. (the card retailed for $6.99) Hey, you do know it's not really "my" thrift store. It just seems that way. Anyway, do you see the aqua sugar bowl with three sugar cubes? Whatever happened to sugar cubes? They sure bring back memories... I remember seeing them at all our little Luthuran Church events... Ladies Aide, dinners, funerals, weddings, church bazaars. Norwegians drink their coffee black but those few that used sugar, well, I suppose sugar cubes were easier to store. Who knows. But I saw sugar cubes as being very fancy-schmancy and I couldn't wait to grow up and drop one of these in my cup of coffee. So, I'm off to find me some cubes... oooh, do you suppose they make Splenda cubes?


I will leave you for the weekend with a few garden pics. We sorta let our lantana take over, knowing we have no plans to sit out on our garden bench anyway. Too hot, too humid... oh but we are loving the monsoon thunderstorms that seem to build daily.

crazy corduroy Christmas quilt

One of the things I noticed while watching our home movies is that for several years I covered our couch with a colorful old vintage quilt during the holidays. It made our family pictures so fun and festive. But because it was old and hanging on by a thread, it only lasted a few years. I actually thought as I watched those Christmas videos, that I needed to be on the look out for a Christmas colored quilt to cover our couch (say that 3 times real fast)! during the holidays.
Well, I went to my little thrift store on Saturday and found the perfect holiday quilt! Take a look at this beauty! It's a corduroy crazy quilt with red flannel backing!! It is sooo soft and thick and heavy. The colors are brilliant and vivid and bright. And check out the hand stitching! It should withstand years of wear 'n tear, as we're hoping to fill our home with grandchildren someday! Oh and for only $10.00!! (everything was half-off!) I know! I know! I even make myself sick!
What I'd like to know... who in their right mind gets rid of these works of art!



Btw, Randy and Miranda finished the HP book 2 am Monday morning. At one point, I walked in the living room just as Miranda had burst into tears... then I burst into tears (cuz I always cry when someone cries)... and then after some consoling hugs they resumed reading while I resumed organizing my craft supplies.

rulers & measuring tapes

How cute is this! Click here and read all about it. Found this little beauty at a yard sale last weekend for 25 cents. The aqua tape measure with bright yellow on the other side is my new fav. Oh and do you see the other aqua tape role? Made in England and the numbers are ginormous. (yes! finally used that word) They were both found in a bag of notions at Savers.


I have always had a thing for rulers, yard sticks and measuring tapes. This was a pic that I posted several months ago.


Then I found this! I got sooo excited cuz I had only seen this fabric in primary colors. But then my sister Ginny asked me to keep an eye out for the black and gold ruler patterned fabric and there it was! at my favorite fabric store in Phoenix! The Sew and Vac at 35th Ave & Northern! AND I was able to use my 40% off coupon!


While the gal was measuring out my 4 yards she pointed out the word "Penney's" imprinted on the fabric. Oh my gosh! Can you see it?! Are you seeing a pattern here? Pardon the pun, but remember the Penney's pattern? And then Natasha commented on that very post that she has a piece of blue check gingham with the word "Penney's" imprinted on it, that she thinks would look awesome as the backing for that framed pattern. I was like, Natasha! Are you kidding me?!
Hey, are you thinking what I'm thinking... yup, new collection... vintage Penney's memorabilia!

harry potter has arrived

and the marathon begins. Randy and Miranda started reading fifteen minutes ago and they will continue to read to each other until they are too tired to go on... they'll sleep a little... then read till they finish the book. This is a big deal... a tradition they have done with each of the books. In fact, such a big deal that Randy even got someone else to lead worship tomorrow morning so as to keep the tradition going. (Oooh, I can hear Miranda doing all the accents from each of the characters! Man, I love that girl!)

home movies

How many of us actually take the time to watch old home movies? We video hours of precious memories and then they sit on a shelf for years and years. Well, thanks to our oldest son Shawn, we have been watching those old home movies. I am telling you, they are hysterical! I swear I don't remember experiencing half of what we're watching! Probably because most of the time I was tired, overwhelmed or completely unaware the camera was even rolling! But here's the blessing... my kids think I was the most fun Mom ever. Well, of course I was, we were filming birthday's, Christmas, talent shows, vacations, church events. Little do they remember what happened when the cameras were turned off! Ha! But hey, I will take what they remember and thank God these videos show my better side.

But here's what I know for sure as I watch these home movies...
Shawn & Miranda had crazy, vivid imaginations...pretending to be Batman & Cat Woman, Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer dancers, and the Roxettes singing "Joyride", to name just a few. (can we all agree that "Joyride" is the best song ever!)
They sang constantly, all day long. Miranda, by age 3, knew every Disney song ever written!
They used strange materials to express their artist flare. Tyler would put Playtex gloves on his feet and pretend to be a dinosaur.
They embodied whomever they pretended to be. Miranda believed she was Briar Rose and would sing "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream..." while picking berries in our backyard and she was only 2 years old.
I tried real hard not to impose my insecurities onto my kids. Picture this, Tyler insistent on wearing a three-piece bonded knit suit on picture day when he was in the first grade. He was James Bond all summer and would wear that suit riding bike in 112 degree temps! Well, he wore the suit that day, even though we told him that kids may tease him. He didn't care in the least, but Randy & I worried all day till he got home and said "ya, kids laughed but that's ok".
And just how authentic did they get? Well, one day our neighbor called asking if we knew that we had a "sniper" on our roof. Umm yes, that would be our Tyler.
Oooh, gotta share a story... several years ago we spent a week with two other families at the beach in San Diego. Tyler literally packed every Army Ranger/ Sniper costume and every single gun he owned. One day we heard helicopters over our condo... yes, Tyler was out on the Bell Tower dressed as a sniper, all in black, with enough arsenal to scare anyone witless! Randy had to climb out on the roof and wave the the helicopters off. True story!
Oh and who can forget the commercials they recited over and over... my favorite "come on in, take a seat, I'm gonna tell ya what the big boys eat. Name is Wheaties, crunchy wheat, and now you know what the big boys eat. Hello milk, come on in, jump in berries, have a swim. Wheaties, Wheaties, crunchy wheat, now go tell your Mama, what the big boys eat!" Bring back any memories?
And last but not least... Tyler (age 3) telling us on camera that he wants to be "a corn, a dinosaur and a Cool Whip Man" when he grows up. Let me explain... we were sooo excited when we picked the sweet corn we had grown, that I think he must have thought, "then I want to be one!" He lived and breathed dinosaurs... enough said. And the Cool Whip Man, well, he would see this big, white, fluffy monster-looking character at the grocery store and... well, go figure.
Isn't it true though? Kids say and do the darnedest things.

damaged goods

I like damaged goods. I am all over those clearance aisles filled with less-than-perfect items. They actually have more character... they've shown they can last, endure... they've proven they have longevity.
And to be perfectly honest, I am not comfortable with shiney, new things. Really... they make me nervous. When will they show their true colors? Will they be able to withstand some wear 'n tear? And I find myself thinking "someone please put me out of my misery and ding the dang thing!" I really feel that way. And I know me, I would be so weird about wanting it to stay new, to stay perfect. I wouldn't want the kids to sneeze near it, much less touch it! So we just never bought anything new... except of course mattresses and pillows and such. As a result, I was ok with my kids applying the usual wear 'n tear cuz well, it sorta started that way anyway and we didn't pay much... and that's a good thing, right?!

So I was at Hobby Lobby the other day and I found this... one of the hooks was off, the screws missing and the wood, pretty beat up... which made it all the more charming and shabby and chic! Retail $49.99, I paid $10.00! All the vintage gingham aprons were found at my little thrift store for a dollar each. Check out the detailed handwork.


Can you believe it! I found this at Goodwill for $1.49! The glass was so dirty, buttons were missing and the sewing notions were not adhered to the fabric anymore. But look at that Penney's pattern! Clic the pic, cuz it says that "Buttons and Bows" was a hit song from the Paramount Picture "Pale-face" starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell!! Can you believe it! They named apron patterns after hit songs!!! And the ric rac has a 10 cents price tag! Someone lovingly framed these vintage sewing notions and then for whatever reason, discarded it. And now it's mine to preserve with love. I have always wanted to frame vintage sewing notions too! So my plan is to reposition the notions and add some more that I have and glue on more buttons and change out the fabric backing to... maybe a yellow gingham. I will be sure to post pics when the project is completed. In the mean time, I will continue to rescue and repurpose discarded damaged goods. It's what I do.

the dog days of summer

So what's new on the home front?
Well, we'll start with Shawn... he's loving his job at the Apple Store. In fact, he had his first brush with fame... the other day he sold two iPhones to Amare Stoudemire of the PHOENIX SUNS!! Check out his official website ! What a cool site!
Shawn's wife Nicole is starting her new job as an ER nurse at Good Sam this Monday. She has been working for the past three years as an ICU nurse at Thunderbird Banner. She's looking forward to all the exciting, new challenges and I am sure will have some fascinating stories to share.
Miranda is enjoying her job as an instructor at the Arizona School of Message Therapy in Tempe. She loves her students, decorating her apartment, Netflix and reading... oh and she is counting the days when the new Harry Potter book comes out so her and her Dad can read the entire book together. They have read every book out loud together. And me... well, I have never read nor seen the Harry Potter movies. So I just don't get all the hype.
Tyler is working full time for FLOOR & DECOR in Tempe. He's pretty excited that he gets paid to 'work out', carrying all those heavy boxes of tile. Just wanted to point out that his name means tile maker/ tile layer... sorta weird, huh.
And it's hot... real hot! So we do what most of you do in the winter... we hibernate, we become housebound. Cuz there is nothing worse than getting back in a HOT vehicle! My exercise program you ask... parking my van wherever I can find a piece of shade, even if I have to walk a REAL long ways. And it makes my kids so mad, but they thank me when we get back to a somewhat tolerable van! Oh, the joys of living in the desert.
So I will leave you with this.


Tyler took this awesome picture a year ago while we were hiking near Horn Peak. We were at a Horn Creek family camp near Westcliffe, Colorado. The camp is at 9000 ft. and it's cool and beautiful and Randy and I leave to go back there in three weeks and we can hardly wait!!

cottage hankies

Do you not love these pics! I wish I could claim this lovely cottage bedroom as my very own but well... maybe in my dreams. But I did get permission from Cindy @ My Romantic Home to post these lovely pics, to show you what she did with her vintage hanky collection! I love the look! And I AM going to do the same with all my hankies! Can't wait to get started! Thanks for the inspiration Cindy! Oh and be sure to check out her awesome blog!

recycled purse

Look what I found for my friend Nancy's birthday!!! A RECYCLED PURSE! Ok, a few months back I read about a company that makes recycled purses from license plates and old bottle caps and of course I thought they were so cool. So I'm walking through Saver's last week and look down and there it was! An OHIO license plate purse!! And my friend grew up in Ohio and oh my gosh, it was an actual Little Earth recycled purse that retails for $59.00 and I got it for $4.99!! I was sooo excited! Come on, what are the chances?!
Happy Birthday Nancy! Her and Terry hosted a wonderful, yummy dinner party on Saturday night with a group of friends that have known each other for over 25 years, to celebrate my dear friend Nancy's 7x7 birthday on 07/07/07!!

pegged artwork

When I was planning my craft room, I knew I wanted a wall filled with colorful tote bags hanging on pegs. What I ended up hanging from those pegs were little girl straw bags and such. You have got to go down the isle at your local Savers and check out the little girl's purse section! And here's the kicker, most of them have the original tags on them, because they are given as gifts and never used. They are so bright and colorful and so artsy cutsy! I mixed in a couple small baskets filled with vintage millinery flowers to add even more texture. Ok, so the bustier pink floral purse was found at a yard sale for 50 cents! Come on, how could I NOT add that to my pegged artwork!

America, The Beautiful

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The addition of the phrase "under God" was added to the Pledge in 1954 by President Eisenhower. Check out the story on Wikipedia.

President Eisenhower felt strongly "that these words [“under God”] will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded."

Wow, I did not know that story. I was just looking up the Pledge of Allegiance to make sure I spelled the words right... and found out a whole lot more.

Have a happy & safe Independence Day Celebration!

let us not forget

A year ago when we were back visiting my family in WI, we took my parents on a roadtrip. We stopped for breakfast near the little town of Cadott and happened upon a very touching memorial to the events of 9/11. I was once again reminded that the pain of that day brought our country together in a way that I pray will remain... that memorials like this will never let us forget those lives that were senselessly taken that day.

I was also reminded, as I watched my Dad staring at the Memorial, that WWII had ended soon after he joined the Army in 1944 and that is when ~ "Eisenhower ordered every unit not in the battle line to be brought to see the horrors of the camps scattered about Germany". Eisenhower wanted the soldiers to SEE what he knew the world would not believe, when they heard about what had happened in those concentration camps. My Dad was one of those servicemen. I can't imagine what he witnessed...

A few years ago my brothers took my Dad to see the Holocaust Museum in Washinton D.C. My Dad saw a particular picture and told my brothers that he was there the day that picture was taken. Some women overheard him telling his sons the events of that day when dignitaries and soldiers came to that camp. My brothers and these women were in awe as they heard my Dad tell of that experience, that happened some 60 years ago, that we had never known before... and that we, as a Nation, will hopefully never forget.

let freedom ring

This week I will be posting some of my favorite photos with our nation's flag. We always had a flag waving from a flag pole on our family farm in WI... always. In fact many of those flags throughout the years had been flown from our nation's capitol before we recieved it. Yes, you can buy a flag that has first flown from the Capitol. How cool is that! I remember taking down our flag each night if there was a threat of rain and raise it back up in the morning. My Dad is a very patriotic man that served in World War II, so the flag was always a big deal and still is. Randy & I are proud to have a flag at our home too.


Every single time we go back to the farm, Randy and our son Tyler climb the 90 foot Harvestor Silo the morning we head back to Phoenix. You can see our van, packed and ready to go, and Tyler and Randy on top of the silo. I was always too nervous to watch them climb up and climb down, so I would wait for them to get to the top and then take their picture. No, I have never done it and chances are, I never will.