Decorating on a Budget

Sep27

Decorating

Are you ready for a new look, but just can’t afford to redo
everything at once?  There are a couple of major things you can do
which will not be expensive, but will make such a big difference in
your living space.

First:  I know you have heard this before, and probably think you
don’t have time, or it’s such an ordeal, or that you really can’t
afford it right now.  Have you guessed what I am referring to?  If
you guessed paint, well, you are exactly right.

If your room is dark or drab, or so bold that it’s downright
irritating, then it certainly is time for this kind of a change.
I’m telling you, a couple of gallons of paint can make such a
difference; it will make your room look like it has totally been
redone.  And that’s without recovering or buying any new furniture.

Here are several tips on paint.  I always buy Benjamin Moore paint.
It costs a little more, but it covers exceptionally well.   If you
take your time, buy as good a paint brush as you can afford (none
of these .99 specials!!), and a little more expensive roller with a
little nap on it (awh, come on now, how much can a nice roller
cost?), then you can do a professional job yourself.  If you are
not making a drastic change on paint colors, one carefully applied
coat will probably be enough.  Most professionals say always use
two coats, but remember, we’re trying to change our lives on a
budget.

If your doors and moldings look half-way decent, then leave them if
necessary.  However, a little soap and water can make most of them
look like new.  Now, this one step has saved you lots of time and
money.  Next, with a nice angled brush, cut in on the walls around
your windows and doors.  This is the step which takes more time,
and you really won’t see how great it’s going to look while you are
tackling this job, but your persistence and hard work will pay off!

Next comes the fun part; where you can really begin to see a
difference in your room… roll the paint on your walls.  Roll
slowly overlapping as you go.  Keep your roller filled from the
paint tray, being careful not to load it too full, or you’ll have
drips.  Get as close to the trim, lapping over where you have
already cut in with your brush and slowly go all the way around
your room.  If you have to stop for a while, never stop in the
middle of a wall – always in a corner.  The same hint applies if
you run out of paint and have to buy another gallon.  Even though
you purchase the exact same color, you can often tell a difference
in colors which are purchased at different times.  So starting and
stopping in a corner takes care of this little problem. Continue reading →

She’s Here

Aug6

"BABY GIRL"

Ava Grace Alexander, formerly known as "Baby Girl" arrived on August 3rd, at 4:20 pm.

Ava weighed 7lbs, 8 oz., and was 20 1/4 inches long.  Mother, Daughter, and Father  are doing great and arrived back at their new home today.  They only spent 4 nights in their new home before going into labor and leaving for the hospital. I am so very proud of my "children".  They are loving, caring, Christian partents who know how to pray, trust, and give God all of the credit.  I'll tell you…. it just couldn't get any better

Here they are above, Matt, Sara, Lucas, and Ava

Oh, yes, and I just couldn't resist putting a picture of "Mimi" and "Ava" in my blog.  I really never had any clue how special being a grand-mother could be.  It's really the best thing ever!!!! Smiles… Nancy  

Buying Trip to Atlanta

Jul4

Yesterday morning, Thursday, my hubby and I left at 7:30 to go to one of my suppliers near Atlanta.  I needed to buy fall ribbons and flowers.  Oh, and yes… I needed to go ahead and purchase Christmas.  Isn’t it awful to think that I have to purchase Christmas so early.  But I do have to remember that when I had my “brick and mortar” business, I used to order Christmas during January ($60,000 to $80,000) worth at the time, and have it shipped in May.  So by the middle to end of June, my shop was transformed into a winter wonderland when it was 100 degrees outsite.   Boy! am I glad those days are over – way to much stress wondering if I would have the money to pay for all that merchandise when it was due on December 10th!

Things are so very different now selling in the Internet, and I’m LOVING it!!!!!

The supplier we visited yesterday does not have a catalog, and they don’t even have a website…. way… too much merchandise to go to the trouble of listing it anywhere, and their turnover is unbelievable.  One week you may see dozens of boxes of some particular stem, and then the next week, those are all sold out and something more wonderful – or less wonderful is found in its place.

Here are some pictures of us on our trip.  You’ll see how much I purchased yesterday because I filled up my car as I usually do. 

Ribbon rows were unbelievable.  I filled up my cart with many rolls of ribbon that I liked, then went back and unrolled many of them.  I like to match colors since most of my bows are made from two and even three ribbons at one time.

I’m sure I spent over an hour, or maybe even an hour and a half picking ribbons.  So many – so beautiful – I could have purchased 10 times more than I really did!

Beautiful new (bold) colors abound in ribbons this year – pinks, purples, orange, reds, lime green, purple, and of course the regular Christmas Reds.

There were three buildings such as this one in the pictures…  We were there for 3 1/2 hours, and I only covered one building.  That totally wore me out – and filled up my car.  I’ll have to check out the merchandise in the other buildings on my next trip.  We may even need to pull my son’s trailer.  I could literally fill it up!  These buildings have NO AIR CONDITIONING!! Yup, you heard me right… only fans and open doors.  We went so early because the temperature rose up to 100 degrees yesterday in Georgia.

 As you can see, we just couldn’t add another thing to my car!  Now, my breezeway is filled with wreaths, flowers, greenery, and lots of ribbons.  There are some wonderful new mesh ribbons which I will be listing in my store.  There are colorful, wirey, glittery, and sheer and will be so showy draped around the Christmas tree.

Totay is July 4th.  We are invited to two pic-nics, so we’ll have a wonderfully busy day. 

Hope all of you have a wonderfull and safe Fourth of July!

Smiles… Nancy 

How My Diet Helped My Fibromyalgia

Jul2

I have received several emails today since my newsletter went out. These are from people who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, or think they may have fibromyalgia but have not been diagnosed yet.

Everyone is wanting to know what my diet is that has helped me so much….

First of all, I need to make it clear that I am not any sort of medical professional, and whenever you make any changes, you need to check with your Dr. first. The response of my hometown Doctor is: “I don’t understand what all you’re doing, but keep it up – it works.”

About three to four years ago, I was going downhill very fast. I truly believe that if I had continued on the path I was on, I would be in a wheelchair by now. I could not stand at all to make a wreath, I could only walk several steps at a time and then had to stop to take a break. I was depressed, but so sensitive to medicine, that I could hardly take any. I was also VERY environmentally and chemically sensitive. I was in severe pain all of the time. Needless to say, I was Miserable!

I heard about a Doctor, an endocrinologist, in Atlanta, Ga. His name is Dr. Harry Delcher. He had really helped someone else from my hometown. Even though that is only a 2 hour drive from here, I knew I could not make the trip. I called his office and asked if I could set up a phone consultation, and they did.

The very first thing he said to me was, “You have Celiac Disease and need to go on the Celiac diet – because 90% of my fibromyalgia patients improve greatly on this diet even if they have not been diagnosed with Celiac Disease.” That wasn’t what I wanted to hear – I wanted vitamins, minerals, even medicine that I could tolerate to make me better. So, we tried that route first. He has fibro himself and knew what I was going through. After about 6 months of trying everything he and I could think of, I finally said: “OK, tell me what not to eat.” His response was – “it will be easier if I tell you what you can eat”. I thought, oh no, I’m in trouble.

Click Here to go to my Ladybug Wreaths Forum – to read the rest of this…..