***1st Day of School*** ~~Mom's Sentimental Journey~~~

Hi Sweet Friends...

I am being a bit sentimental today...

Today was my daughters 1st day back to

College...a sophomore this year! WOW.

She is still commuting from home...

so

at least I get to see her whiz in and out...

and

occasionally now, she will chat and

catch me up with what has gone on in her day.

Knowing today was her first day made me go

back in time.

So....I made it up to my picture closet to see

if I could find M's first day of Kindergarten pictures.

I found them.

I get so choked up remembering those early days.

How simple and easy it all seems now.

But back then I know it sure didn't

seem that way.

I babysat 2 other neighbor girls that were her age

during her early years.

It was a blessing for her, being an only to

have so many others in our neighborhood to

grow up with.  She always fit right in.

And I'd get comments about how she

didn't act like an only.

That's my socially outgoing girl!

Hasn't changed one bit!

I didn't realize that I took a picture of my daughter

and her friend, but not one alone of my daughter.

These two went to kindergarten together, best buds.

Kindergarten was on Tuesdays, Thursdays all day,

 and

1/2 the afternoon on Friday.

Those days kept me hopping.

I remember Michaela being exausted that first week.

They were given time in the afternoon to nap or rest

but I am sure the change tuckered her out.

She came home and ate a snack but could not

keep awake...to precious!

Do you have sweet memories like these?

I am sure you do!

Be Blessed,

Lorena

~~~Coffee Table SlipCover~~~

Hi Friends!

I'm linking up with Savvy Southern Style
For
Wow Us Wednesday...

Well...I meant to get this written yesterday...but life happens. lol

But this is what I was attempting to work on and

finish yesterday. A slip cover for our coffee table.

Before

After...

This is the 2nd slipcover that I have made for

our Fam Room Coffee Table.

Hubs and I are "put your feet up and get comfy"

type peeps in the evening.

We enjoy our relaxing time.

Earlier this year we decided to use

what we had, our coffee table, and make it more comfy

for us to put our feet up on.

We bought a 2 inch batting foam...didn't

want to go to high as this table is already

couch level. 

My first attempt was too light weight of a

material and the seams didn't take to well to

the wear and tear of us constantly putting our

feet up.

So...I found another fabric I had stashed

and threw it over our table until I could

get this pinned and ready to sew.

That was probably 2 months ago that

I did this...procrastinator for sure!

All pinned and ready to sew...

A pretty good fit...the first try.

Yesterday I was determined to

pin and sew this *easy* project.

Easy...YIPES...I broke 3 needles

before I had to go to JoAnns and

purchase heavy duty Jean needles.

(Note to self, there is never an easy

project with a fickle old machine, old

lady doing the work and

a mouth that would need some

soap...yep a few ugly, bad words

were spoken before this was all said

and done).

The view from where I was sitting last evening!

Oh and I brought my only 3 hydrangeas in to

let them dry.  I put water in the pitcher and will

just let it soak up and evaporate...

the hydranges with reatain their color and look

beautiful for months to last.

But I lurve, luv, LOVE how it

FINALLY came together.

Be blessed!

Lorena

~~~How do I LOVE? ~~~

In my quest to keeping it real today

I forgot to stop first thing

 to take time with my

LORD.

But guess what, He was still waiting for me

when I decided to stop and come.

And today I'd like to share just what he

had on HIS mind to share with me.

I am still reading Psalms.

(on my i-pad, luv!!!)

Psalms 7: 9b, 10, 11, 12 (NIV)

For you look deep within the mind and heart,

O righteous God.

God is my shield,

saving those whose hearts are true and right.

God is an honest judge.

He is angry with the wicked every day.

If a person does not repent,

God will sharpen his sword;

Now you might ask,

How do I love...

what does that have to do

with this passage.

Let me share with you...

Do you have those people in your life

that are just plain hard to like or love?

who have messed their lives up?

they don't live as GOD would have them?

or have you been hurt

 or has someone

you love been hurt by another?

God asked me do I LOVE the unlovely in my life?

Hmmm...many times I must admit a

big fat NO.  I'd rather run in the

opposite direction than to have to deal

with an unpleasant person or situation

that *I* don't approve of.

Sound familiar?

If God  looks deep into my heart and sees

this unwillingness to love in me...it is sin.

God loves the unlovely and

HE

wants me to so as well.

Doesnt mean it will be easy...just love.

Leave the rest to Him. 

He always has a better way

of dealing with anyone than we ever would.

Love!

Be Blessed,

Lorena

Decorating with Pink ~ Pink Saturday

I am so happy to join our sweet

Hostess Beverly over at

How Sweet the Sound

for the weekly tour of all things PINK!

I went around my room a while back and

was looking at things I have used in my

Master Bedroom that is pink.

Was I amazed how much I have and

 how well Pink and Blue

go together...and our blue walls

make everything looks so dreamy!

My quilt is sooo beautiful, a Rachel Ashwell Kings Size,

I snagged at Target for $50...all covered in pretty pinks!

( rug color is actually called Cameo Mauve)

I finally got around to embellishing a favorite photo

of hubby and me with my Pink Clay roses!

 

I love the view in the mirror...but also the

pretty pinks I have put around my dresser!

Another one of my to dos..that I got done

in my crazy crafting frenzie I did a month ago!

This is my side of the bed...can you tell?

Love this darling phote of my daughter at 4.

I placed it next to one that my aunt made and then

placed a picture of me in.  I treasure this!

 I am sure I was

3 or 4 at that time as well.

So hard to get a good picture when there is glare! ugh!

I LOVE this Jessica McClintock by Gunne

Sax...and knew it needed to be hung on my wall.

Ready for an afternoon tea, in 1920?

And last...this is my wedding dress and hat I

wore 25 years ago, Aug 2, 1986.  I helped

design this dress and a dear friend made it. 

Its a creamy, lightweight satin covered in

delicate lace.

This flanks my dresser and is on the left

side as my Gunne Sax is on the right.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you enjoyed my PINKs

that I have scattered throughout my

Master Bedroom.

Be Blessed!

Lorena

Getting REAL Honest ~ Food Diary *YIKES* ~ My Journey with Type 2 Diabeties

Good Friday Morning Bloggie Friends!

Yep getting real stinks!!!

I don't think I mentioned when I was sharing about

the monitoring I am doing,

 that...

I have to keep a FOOD Journal!

YIKES!

Writing it down in black and white sure

makes you think twice before

putting anything into your mouth.

It also made me realize that I needed to take

this opportunity to be a little more diligent

in trying to loose 7-10lbs that I

feel I need to loose so that I can feel good about myself.

Here's a sample of my 1st day writing ALL

of what I have been eating and doing down.

I am already down 1.5 pounds in just keeping a closer

eye on what goes into my mouth.

This has been a better deterent for me and now

I can see why many weight loss systems have

you do this.

This was just taken after I had eaten my hard boiled

eggs mashed in butter (my mom did this for us as kids)

and a cup of coffee with loads of cream today!

After yesterdays rollercoaster ride...checking my sugars has

been very eye opening! I am seeing how my body is

reacting to foods.  I now realized that when my

BG (blood glucose) shot up to over

250 yesterday afternoon after I ate

1 cup of yummy Pita chips with cucumbers,

I cannot eat these unless I put some protien with them.

WOW is all I can say!

I am also working diligently to take a few minutes each

day to have some time with my Lord, in his word.

I am reading Psalms. 

My goal is to read until I

feel the message GOD wants me to have

is impressed upon my heart.

Today I came away knowing:

I am LOVED

and

PROTECTED

by the one Most High!

Does my heart good to know this!

Be Blessed!

Lorena

Breakfast *Club* Girlfriends (A Real Blessing) ~ Shabby Pink Pumpkin?

Hi friends!

Well, I am being true to my words and posting

a bit of what's going on today in my life.

Thursdays is my Breakfast *club* gals.

This group of gals, between 6-8 of us,

have been faithfully having breakfast, on Thursdays,

 now for over 12 years. 

It all began with an invite from one dear friend,

and the rest is history. 

We started when  many of our children were in 2nd grade.

Moms, stay at home or working part

time, began what I believe is one of the

best things anyone can have...support in friendship.

We have saved each other a gazillion $$$$ in counseling

bills...as we have shared lifes ups and downs,

struggles with school issues, hubby woes,

children woes, job losses,  health issues,

cancer, deaths in families,

and...

 as of late graduations and children

going away to college.

We ladies have been through

so much that we decided we would continue on,

even as our children are now flying the next.

I hold each one very dear to my heart and they

have become my support system.

Do you have friends like this?

I am truly blessed!

*****

Pink and Shabby Pumpkins...

I found a couple pumpkins last year that I

forgot I had...got them coated in pink

and then never finished them.

Well,

this past week I pulled them out and

got one finished...ya wanna see?

It's all painted in a soft pink, with happy pink

roses painted on front...

then I added some lace and a battenburg

lacy doilie on top...then

sprinkled a few of my clay roses,

pearls, glitter and pink bow on

top to finish it all off

A shabby chic Pumpkin for the

Pink lover in all of us!

Going right over and adding it

to my etsy when I'm through!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Be Blessed!

Lorena

 



I'm all Sensored Up ~ My Journey Living with Type 2 Diabeties

Hey Friends, How are you today?

I have decided to try reeeeally hard to come in

and share on a daily basis with you what's going on

in my life. 

I don't know about you but

sometime I wonder if anyone really cares or

wants to know. 

But,

I do know when I see

some of my dear friends post,

I love to read know what's going on,

what they are creating

or how they really are doing on a

more daily basis. 

I am going to try and

use this as a way to journal my life and

share where I am on a more frequent basis.

DISCLAIMER...if you are squeamish don't go any further.

So...

Yesterday I had my bi-annual check with my

Endochronologist(sp?).  I'm never sure what to

expect, or say when I go.  This time it was

very different from the past 5 years of appointments.

This time  I talked with a Endo Nurse Practioner.

I really liked her and felt like I actually got

a more thorough visit.

What came out of my visit was me being

given and Dexcom Sensing Unit.

Now when I say given, I mean they

inject a needle into your side which has a sensing device,

and this reads glucose leves between 280-300 times.

Its a way to chart what your glucose levels are doing

and see more clearly what is going on.

She encourage me to do this because they are

finding out, that patience like me, who's

A1C's (monthly reads of how your glucose is doing)

isn't always an accurate picture of what really is going on.

Please don't get grossed out...this is the actual monitor

that is on my left side...

I am to wear this sensor for a week.  Check my blood

glucose once every 12 hours and then add that to my

monitor, that is collecting the data.

Here above, is the monitor that is giving me a read of 120.

This is so cool cause I can click OK and see at any given

time what my levels are.

For those who have never seen an actual Blood

Glucose Kit this is the one they actually gave me.

You have your needle, Glucose Meter, see the

strip in it? and the strip container.

It's something you have to get use to as a Diabetic.

Now, right now I am considered Pre-Diabetic. 

I had early simptoms, excessive peeing, drinking

fluids, and extreme weekness and being tired.

I have always maintained an normal weight and

was very taken back with this diagnosis as

many like me, assume that it usually shows

up later in years when you add extra pounds.

Me, well, I have the genetic link...

By watching what I eat,

(Yes you can eat sugars, just keep it small)

monitoring my glucose levels,

seeing my doctor regulary and taking my meds...I am

able to keep myself in a PRE-Diabetic state.

I go back next Thursday to turn in my

monitor.  I am REALLY excited to

see what they have to say about what is going

on.  And, if need be to help me tweak a few things.

Isn't Modern day technology AMAZING?

If you have any of the symptoms I described,

please read further or see your doctor about early detection

of Type 2 Diabeties.  It could save your life.

Be Blessed,

Lorena

Tea Time Tuesday ~ Tea Vinettes ~ Dining Room Tour ~

Hello Sweet Tea Loving Friends!

Today I am linking up with my dear sweet friend

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage

for yet another amazing week of

sharing our love of all things tea.

If you come to my home as you enter, to your

right you will see my

*Tea Themed* Dining Room.

My Love for ALL thangs Tea began

 over 25 years ago when I was decorating

my first home.  Loving to shop at

quaint flea markets, antique shoppes

and thrift stores it is really where it all began.

And... through the years, family, friends

and moi have continue to add to that collection.

I began first with Tea Cups and then all

things tea began to follow.

The bulk of my collection is English bone

china which is my favorite,

but,

I am sure there are other makers

sprinkled within...the main theme is...

what strike me as pretty and of course roses!

I have been re-arranging some of my

shelves in my hutches, walls and dining room,

 so I thought you might like to see them.

Instead of sharing one or two items,

I'll share them all! lol

A full view into my dinimg room.

My Sweet Hutch, that houses most of my

*Rose Chintz* by Johnson Brothers.

I have been thinking about painting the insides of this hutch

or

placing lighter wall paper behind...what would you do?

A collection of blue cups and plates.

I do love to arrange my things in

unique ways...out in the open for all to see my

eye candy...I LOVE eye candy!

More cups and collectibles...

yep, I also love milk glass too!

Below is my *new* hutch that I created using

a *butlers* pass through are we have.

It had cabinets below...but not on top.

I took a shelf that was my daughters

hutch above her desk and turned it

into another display area for me to play with!

I hope you enjoyed my sharing of my

wonderful collection of tea things!

Many have such wonderful sentiments behind

them and make me feel so good when I view them.

Be Blessed!

Lorena

Golden Honey Granola

Hi Friends!

I am Joining

WOW us Wednesay

over at Savvy Southern Style

be sure to stop by and see all the

fun things talented bloggers do!

I don't usually share much in the way of

recipes or cooking.

I am a much confessed lover of baking

but do not enjoy cooking meals unless

they are quick and easy.

So, yesterday when I ran across this Granola

recipe, something of which I had been

wanting to make up, I thought you all

might enjoy it too.  It's yummy and somewhat

healthy...

GOLDEN HONEY Granola

Dry Mix...all these together:

6 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

1 Cup Dried Cranberries

1 Cup Dried Rasins or Apricots

1 Cup Sliced Almonds (Optional, my Fam does'nt like nuts)

1 Tsp Cinnamon

1 Cup Light Brown Sugar

1/2 Tsp Salt

Wet Mix...heat these together:

1 1/2 Sticks of Butter

1/2 CupsHoney

In a Large bowl add all dry ingredients and mix

them together well.

Melt butter and then add honey to the hot mixture

and pour over the dry ingredients.

Mix all ingredients well together.

Spread mixture onto a parchment or

foil lined large cookie sheet.

Place in 350 oven

30-40 minutes

I put my buzzer onfor 10 and checked

and stirred these until they were golden.

Cool...then place in an air tight contain.

TIPS:

I do think I may have over cooked my a bit

so next time I will try 30 minutes instead.

I also may experiment with other ingredients like

dried pinapple, banana chips, dried apples

and add these once this has baked.

Hope you have enjoyed this!

I'd love to know if you are going to try this!

These make great gifts too!

Be Blessed,

Lorena

While the Cats away...the Mice will play? Creating and so much more!

Hey friends!

I have been a busy girl...

already getting an early start on my

goodies I make for the holiday season!

Would you like to see what I have been doing?

A sweet Pink Santa...and those cone trees

are available for sale too!

Making roses like crazy...can't keep up!

These are for sale for you to use on your own

projects...I offer many color choices too.

These sweet petite doves are some of my favorite things!

I have done them in sets and offer them in pinks, lavender and aqua.

I did some of these flatter ornies last year but this

year I decided to add these sweet birds to the

mix.  I am sooooo pleased with how sweet these look!

I have so much more I have been listing in my etsy store.

I will be running a

10% discount off your entire purchase

 til after Labor Day.

So I hope you will

stop by and start your Christmas Shopping early!

**********

I am also always clicking cute pictures of my

2 sweet kitties...

here are some recent photos!

Sorry bout those glowing eyes...but look how my

Chloes paws are crossed...just too precious!

Again...Chloes paws are crossed...

she looks perplexed? lol

Awe the life of a cat...

napping!

Thanks again for stopping by!

Love your comments!

Be Blessed

Lorena