Iwanna Wednesday

I mentioned in this previous post that I'm going to try making my own jewelry because I'm sensitive to almost everything I wear, even nickel free stuff. Just this morning I had to take off some earrings because they were itching so bad!! I know that one of the reason's I'm getting more sensitive is because of the thyroid medication I'm taking, but I've always been sensitive.

I haven't figured out how to make earrings yet that won't hurt, but Iwanna start making my own necklaces with black silk cord.

Here's one I've already made and have worn. . .

What Iwanna today is to find some more beautiful charms. I'm not going to buy any unless I find them at thrift stores, yard sales or antique stores because it's just too easy to buy them brand new! That's what I did with the one pictured above...it came from Walmart. I love the thrill of the hunt!

But, since it's too hot to go shopping right now, I went shopping online in the comfort of my air conditioned home. What Iwanna today is to find charms/pendants similar to these:

Aren't these gorgeous? Green is my favorite color. I'm not a big fan of red except that I do love roses.

And this lovely little turtle? Doesn't he look like a sea turtle swimming in diamonds and flowers? Or maybe I like him because he reminds me of the turtle in one of my favorite movies, Finding Nemo. "Hey Dude, Awesome", "No hurling on the shell Dude!"

And these Victorian lovelies are so dainty and beautiful. I'd love a tiny little waist like these!

Here's another red one. I know I said I don't like red but I think this one would look beautiful on a black sweater, and I have to find some red silk cord, or maybe really thin red silk ribbon? I'm going to check out Michael's tomorrow at lunch.

This shell pendant is just so unique. I wonder if you can hear the ocean on the other side?

And Iwanna this one really, really bad! I would even buy this one brand new! I love the colors, I love butterfly's! So shiny and pretty!! You should be able to click on it and see it larger and in more details.

It's going to be so much fun on Thrifting Saturday to look for more charms. Which one is your favorite?

Thrift Shop Treasures

We made the rounds again Saturday, me and my partner in crime, my mom; all healed from her spill in the kitchen and ready to find treasures. We were joined by my sister Lisa who went only because she didn't want to miss bonding with her mom.

We drove by a couple of yard sales but didn't see anything worth stopping for, so we went to our favorite place, the Goodwill Stores. I didn't have a whole lot of luck this week in locating curtain rods that I liked, but I did find the following items. . .

This book by Nicholas Sparks. He's the author that wrote the book turned into the wonderful tearjerker movie "The Notebook". If you want a super romantic, make you cry out loud movie; this is the one.

If you look over to the sidebar on the right at my list of books read for 2009 you will see that I've already read two of his books this year. At First Sight and The Wedding. They were good books, a bit too "happily ever after" but still good. I'll let you know how this one is. It's a hardbound copy and was only 95 cents.


I also found a pair of pink sandals. These were $4.25 but they were brand new, still had the tag on them and they're Cherokee sandals. I'm wearing one to show the sequined detail, (don't look at my unpedicured toes) :-(

I left the other sandal without my foot in it so you could see the detail on the all leather sole. They're really pretty, don't you think? I love pink!

I've also started collecting a new thing. I have a sensitivity to almost all metals, so I can't wear any costume jewelry that's made out of any metals. Sometimes I can wear things that are nickel-free, but sometimes I can't. I have gold earrings I can wear but I've never had pretty necklaces. So my sister came up with this great idea of collecting charms that I like and putting them on black satin rope.

The one below is the first one I've done. I purchased the charm new at Wal-mart for $2.97 and a spool of the rope for the same price. So now I'm going to search when I go to Goodwill's for pretty charms that I can string and use as necklaces. Good idea right?

I found this pink one. It's made of glass, like the one above and it had a pink rope chain on it, but it was really thick and I didn't like it, plus it had a metal clasp and would have irritated my neck.

My mom gave me this one. She had it in her jewelry box and doesn't remember when, where or how she got it, but I think it's going to look beautiful on the black satin ring. I'll have to remember to take a picture of them both when I wear them. I think the pink one above was $3.75, the cameo of course was free :-)

Mom scored some clothes, but her big score of the day was the boots below! It's funny because when she saw them she loved them. But when she looked inside at the size she saw that they were 6 1/2. I wear a 6 1/2 so she brought them to me but I immediately vetoed them as I despise wedge heels. She tried to talk me into trying them on as she loves wedge heels but I refused. So she made my sister try them on. Lisa wears a size 7, but when she tried them on they were HUGE! Turns out they weren't 6 1/2 but 26 1/2!! Not sure what sizing that is but it turned out they were a perfect 9 which is what my mom wears! It was meant to be. Don't you love when that happens?

Here's a close up of the wedge. Mom loves wedgies...umm, I mean wedges. They are pretty, just not my style.

That was it for our treasures yesterday. We have a great lunch at Carrows, then we went to Wal-mart and then the grocery store! All in all a full day. How did you do? Any treasures?

Don't forget to join the party over at Rhoda's Southern Hospitality and see what other thrifting goddesses found!

Iwanna Wednesday

I'm trying really hard to purchase only things that I can find at thrift shops, yard sales, antiques stores, etc to furnish and decorate my home. But I am making an exception for clothes because...well because I don't wanna include clothes! That's not to say that I won't buy clothing at those places named above cause I will and I do, very, very often!

That being said, I purchased a beautiful curtain for my bedroom for a mere $8.00 at the American Cancer Society Discovery Store. I mentioned it in my Thrifting Treasures post but here's a picture for anyone that might have missed it. . .

I mentioned that it's only hung temporarily because Iwanna find some beautiful curtain rods to hang them from. Once I find the perfect curtain rod I want to move it up higher almost touching the ceiling. Rhoda at Southern Hospitality says that draws the eye up and makes your ceiling look higher...or something like that.

So, I did some online shopping to get an idea in my head of what I might want and this is what Iwanna. . .

They're all beautiful aren't they? Which one do you like? Which one do you think would look good with the curtain and my bedroom?

Now I know it's going to be hard to find any of those in a thrift store or yard sale, but there's no big rush. I'll take my time and look. You never know what you're going to find out there, the hunt is just as much fun as the kill right?

I know this one is sorta immature, kinda silly, but I do love butterflies and I know they would get along beautifully with the angel's in my bedroom right?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well I gotta say, all in all, barring getting 1 year older it was a great day! Although I did go to work the girls at work had a cake for me and a box of chocolates. Actually two cakes, one chocolate and one funfetti white cake!

Another friend gave me a canopy for my bed. I'm still debating if my room is big enough for a canopy or whether I'll feel claustrophobic. I'll post pictures if I put it up.

And my mom really surprised me with an addition to my grape/wine themed kitchen. She purchased the two grape trivets shows in the pictures below and then set up a little display along with the plates my daughter gave me. Now I've done a few tablescapes but it never dawned on me to display a tablescape under the glass top so I can actually use the table. The glass is on top and you are looking through it to see the display. Isn't my mom brilliant and doesn't she have excellent taste in gifts?

I also received a beautiful green suede jacket from my sister which I'll take a picture of once it's actually cool enough to wear a jacket since it's 108 degrees today!

My daughter took me out to a super dinner last night at Mimi's. I had my favorite Asian Chicken Salad, she had Scallops with Asparagus Ravioli - Yummo! And my mom who also joined us had Maple Glazed pork chops that were to die for! Mimi's staff was gracious enough to provide us with a dessert ensemble consisting of a brownie hot fudge sundae with vanilla ice cream, chocolate mousse with fresh strawberries and an apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Thanks Mimi's. They also gave me a gift card with a free appetizer for next time I visit.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Thrift Store Treasures

One of my favorite blogs, Southern Hospitality features a "Today's Thrifty Treasures" every Monday. She invites bloggers from across blogland to a Thrifty Treasures Linky Party. To attend this party you write a post about a thrift shop/yard sale/antique store, etc type of treasure that you've found and you link your post to her website where it's listed together with other partiers. I've been checking out everyone else's treasures for awhile and decided this week to "go to the party".

Normally my thrifting partner is my mom. We had a whole day planned for Saturday because Monday is my birthday and I had told her that all I wanted for my birthday was to thrift til we dropped and then a great lunch. But unfortunately mom took a spill in the kitchen, and while she's ok, she did bruise her little toe and she didn't feel up to wearing shoes, let alone walking.

My sister took pity on me and said that if I would go to J.C. Penney's with her, she would go to a FEW thrift stores with me. So somethings better than nothing right?

We hit the Discovery Store first. This store is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and it's one of my favs to hit after work on Friday as it's just down the street from my office. It's been a while since I had found anything good there, but this Saturday I found a pair of Lee Capri pants in light blue (not pictured), and the following. . .

This little butterfly picture was $5.00. A little pricey, but it's for the American Cancer Society so I don't mind spending more than I would have if I had found this at a yard sale.


Here you can see it completes the display in my bathroom. Originally I had three butterflies
but one of them met it's demise because everyone who uses my bathroom automatically assumes the light switch is there and they run into my butterflies. I had to secure the remaining two with tape. This new little butterfly friend fit perfectly on that bare nail, don't you think?

I've been trying to complete a Grape/Wine decor in my kitchen but I'm doing it only with items bought while thrifting...nothing new! I was lucky enough to find this tile/trivet? Not sure what it really is, but it came with twine to hang it from and it fit perfectly under my wine bottle picture and it was a mere $3.00.

I looked up the name San Martino delle Scale and it's a Benedictine abbey in Siciliy. The original monastery was founded by Pope Gregory the Great circa 600. It was burnt down by invading Arabs in 829, and built anew over the ruins in 1346. It is still used. Among its art treasures is a splendid marble staircase by Venanzio Marvuglia from the 1700's and Ignazio Marabitti's famous "Saint Martin and the Beggar," dedicated to the patron saint of the abbey. There is also a painting titled "Daniel in the Lions' Den" by Monreale's own Pietro Novelli, dating from the late 1500s. I don't know much about wines, but I do know I love Pinot Grigio!

From the Discovery store on our way to J.C. Penney's we hit the brakes for an unplanned stop at an Estate Sale where I found this little treasure. And it was so difficult to photograph him as you know how fast hummingbirds wings flap! Good thing I have a great camera!

He flittered about my home until he landed next to my lovely little candlestick/piece of art? I'm not sure what this object is; but it's definitely beautiful. And I guess my little hummingbird thought so as well.They seem almost meant to be don't they?

Hummingbird cost me $1.00 at the estate sale! My sis purchased a jewelry box for $5.00 and three really nice heavy-duty knives for $1.00! And that was it for my thrifting yesterday. I won't even go into what I bought brand-new at J.C. Penney's because that was clothing and clothing whether vintage or brand-new is always ok to buy in my book! Plus it is my birthday tomorrow so I deserved it!!!

I did want to mention the curtains pictured below. I haven't had time to buy the curtain rod I want to use, this is just temporary, but I got these beauties at the American Cancer Society Discovery Store for a mere $8.00 a couple of weeks ago. I'll post pictures later with a nicer rod, but aren't they pretty? These are for my bedroom.

Here's the full shot. The picture on either side of the curtains are also thrift store finds, as is the little table my TV sits on and the mint green table cover is from the Discovery Store. I really don't like to buy new!

So be sure to visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality to see what treasures all the other thrifting queens found!

Iwanna Wednesday

Next week Monday, July 20th is my birthday. I'm going to be 51! Can you believe it? I passed the half a century old mark :-(

So what Iwanna this Wednesday is Iwanna give ya'll a birthday idea! You know that I've posted before that Iwanna new computer right? Well check this one out! It's so unique and no one else will have one. I guess that's why Iwanna one.

This pc is called Dear Diary 1.0

Dear Diary 1.0 is a computer embedded in a traditional wooden desk with a wooden keyboard laser cut and comes with a wooden monitor, wooden mouse to match. By designer Marlies Romberg. It also has Topsecret USB Stick, which made of porcelain and silicone.

I found this little sweetheart at a website with a great name "mocoloco"!

So that's what Iwanna for my Wednesday, and my birthday!

Jack in the Box

I love Jack in the Box tacos. In our family we call them dog meat tacos because the meat in them resembles dog food. But they are so tasty and Jack making them 99cents for two...well that's just super! Delicious and cheap! Crispy, crunchy, just greasy enough to make them taste like Mexican food!

Just looking at that picture above makes you wonder what Jack could ever do to top those tacos. And for years and years and years he couldn't think of anything. So we just enjoyed the dog meat tacos and were content.

But now, Jack has gone and done it! I think that accident that he had a few months ago joggled his brains and made him much more creative because now he's come up with the Jack in the Box Nachos! My sister and I order some on the way home Friday just to try them out. Were we surprised! Because Jack took those awesome, wonderful, just greasy enough tacos and cut them into slices and put them on a bed of lettuce, added nacho cheese and jalapenos and Voila!!! Jack in the Box Nachos!

Now I will warn you that these are not a fast food you can eat in your car while you are driving, unless you have a sister that will hold the tray for you. But even then they are very ooey and gooey and messy. It's really much better to get the regular tacos because those are totally eat in your car while driving food.

Try them though and tell me what you think? I think they're great but could use quite a few more jalapenos. Other than that they are perfect and I can't wait to see what Jack comes up with next!

Go Jack!

I saw this video on Friday morning while I was getting ready to go to work, but I didn't really pay attention so I didn't notice what the product was.

Today I found the video and I just think it's the oddest, weirdest, freakiest, cutest thing I ever saw. See if you agree.

Iwanna Wednesday

Do you realize that today is 7/8/9? July 8, 2009? I just thought that was kinda cool. Has nothing to do with Iwanna Wednesday.


What Iwanna this Wednesday 7/8/9 is for a man to pick me up at Home Depot and ask me to take him home with me!


Yep, that's what Iwanna. Why you might ask? I mean I'm sure you can understand why Iwanna man to want to come home with me, but why one at Home Depot?

Well, let me explain. I have a really nice backyard. It's pretty big and has a nice tree and some beautiful roses, but it's just a yard. See example below. . .

See, beautiful tree, nice roses, green grass, even some person laying there in my hammock. Not sure who that is, but they seem to be enjoying it.

Now here's a picture of the man that I want to meet at Home Depot and have him ask me to bring him home with me. This man is this guy. . . .

Ah ha! See...I even have a guy all picked out. Dreamy isn't he? Do you recognize him? Do you know why I want to bring him home. Here's another lovely picture of this Home Depot pickup man.

Now tell me you wouldn't want him to ask you to bring him home!

So who is he? He's the Yard Crashers guy. And what is Yard Crashers? It's a television show on DIY Network's Yard Crashers. Expert Ahmed Hassan (gorgeous guy above) waits at Home Depot Stores looking for the perfect weekend warriors who could definitely use his help. Once he finds his target, Ahmed and his team follow the surprised shoppers home and completely transform their yards.

Here's some examples of their handiwork. . .

Pretty Sweet huh? Yep, Iwanna meet Ahmed at Home Depot and get a free yard transformation.

My sister has shown her husband this man's picture and told him that if this man wants to come home with him he better darn well let him!

Here's a short video of one man making a big mistake...don't you make this mistake, cause now you know who this man is and why today 7/8/9 Iwanna him!

Iwanna Wednesday

Seems to me this is getting to be just an Iwanna Wednesday blog, and that's not what I wanted or intended. I guess I just have to be more diligent about posting. I have lots to say and lots of ideas to share, but by the time I get home and have dinner, well and watch some TV and share some time with my mom, it's time for bed.

The other night my mom decided to make fried ham sandwiches for dinner. It's kind of a normal, traditional meal for us. You buy sliced ham and fry it in a pan, toast your bread, apply your condiments...I prefer Mayo, add your fried ham, lettuce and tomato and you have the best sandwich in the world. If you happen to have some avocado then it's sheer heaven.

So I decided that I would make some jalapeno poppers with cream cheese. Lest you think I make them from scratch (hahaha), I buy them frozen and then I toast them up in my toaster oven.

Well I guess I have never had so many electrical appliances on at once cause I blew the breakers and I lost electricity to my kitchen and my toaster blew out. Which was ok because it was really, really old. I bought it when I was still married and my kids were 7 and 11 then and now they're 23 and 27...sooooo that tells you how old the toaster is. It's one of those that when you put your bread in you have to stand-by and push the do-hickey up or the toast will burn.

I went shopping online, which is what I do best; for a toaster and OMGosh, they make some really cute ones now-a-days.

Iwanna any one of these:

Aren't these all beautiful? Which one would you Iwanna?