We did it...we did it...we did it...

With the help of Little Sherry, I finally lost those extra five stubborn holiday pounds.  I've been struggling with them for over three months now, but just couldn't seem to get rid of them.  Deciding I needed help, I made a deal with my inner giggly girl.  I promised I'd make her a new apron if she'd help me lose those five offending pounds.  And together, we did it!  Yes!!!

Guess where we're going today?  Well, first a trip to the Bookmobile, and then on to the fabric store!  I'm going to let Little Sherry pick out any piece of fabric she wants for her new apron.  I think she deserves it!

I'm still taking things slow and easy today, just enjoying life.  It's not easy for me because that's not my style.  But hey, styles change!  Hope you have a great day!  I'm sure we will!

~ Sherry ~

P.S.  What do ya know? My drawing of Little Sherry looks a bit like me.  What a coincidence!

Post linked to: Whatever You Want Wednesday, Good Life Wednesday, Show and Tell Friday

Slow and Easy...

...that's what I'm practicing this week.

I'm not sure why I rush through one chore, just to get on to another one.  I'm not sure why I hurry to swallow a bite of food I'm enjoying, just to take another bite.  Why do I gulp down my cup of hot tea when I enjoy it so?  Why can't I sip and savor?

So, starting today, I'm making an effort to pay attention to one thing at a time.  Do my best at each chore.  Enjoy every bite of food and sip of drink.  It's supposed to take 28 days to make a new habit.  For the next 28 days, I'm going to try to remember to practice my new habit of enjoyment.  One day at a time.  Slow and easy.  Want to join me? It'll be fun!

A task takes as long as it takes.  ~ Amish Proverb

How Simple Can It Be?

I have a mission: Enjoy my life.

I have a plan: Simplify my life so that I have more time to enjoy it.

I bring to you Step 1 of my simplifying efforts.

 

Step 1:

Simplify my grooming routine.

I bought new dish cloths to clean my face with because they're scrubbier than my washcloths.  Before bedtime every night I simply wet a cloth in warm water and wash my face.  No soap to dry it out.  My skin seems to love it.  Then I moisturize with a little dab of coconut oil.  No, I don't buy organic oil from a health food store.  I'm going for simple.  I buy plain ol' coconut oil from Walmart.  It's on the shelf with all the other cooking oils.  Again, my skin seems to love it.

In the morning I splash my face with a little warm water (it wakes me up), dry it, and apply my makeup for the day: face powder and lipgloss.  (I love the Lacura powder from Aldi!)

Now I'm ready to face the new day.

Are you a simple groomer too?  I'd love to hear about it!

I'll be back soon with Step 2 in my simplifying efforts.  In the meantime, I'm off to ENJOY my day!

This post is linked to:  Show and Tell Friday

Will the Real Me Please Stand Up?

I love pink kitchens!



from Country Living's 500 Kitchen Ideas


In fact, my kitchen has been through it's pink phase for the last few years.  Then I made THE curtain.  I loved the brightness and cheeriness that it brought into my  little kitchen again.  It made me wonder if I wanted to put my kitchen back through it's red phase.  Then I found the picture below,

from Country Living's 500 Kitchen Ideas

and thought, why not just be me? More eclectic. Forget color schemes and trying to make my kitchen fit the latest style.  So, here's one last peek of my kitchen "before."  Because it's soon going to be much more me, uncluttered but with splashes of bright color!

While reading this book (which I thoroughly enjoyed),

I came across this wonderful quote:

You know what?  I think it works for me!  Have a great day!

~ Sherry ~

Post linked to: Show and Tell Friday, Pink Saturday

A Page from my Happiness File

It's a perfect day weatherly.  My laundry is washed and flapping on the line.  Now I'm going to scrub my floors and then go out and enjoy the sunny day I'm blessed with.  Hope you enjoy your day!

~ Sherry ~

This post is linked to:  Whatever You Want Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Good Life Wednesdays

Playing on a rainy day

This is quite the rainy day in our neighborhood. It follows on the heels of quite the rainy night. But that's okay. I turn on all the lights in my little spot of the world and everything is bright and cheery here.

Since I did today's homey chores yesterday, I have the whole day (until time to cook supper) to just play and indulge my inner giggly girl's whims! Believe it or not, she first wants to play house. So we catch up on a little sewing.  Just little odds and ends of things. Then I take out my ironing board and lavender water spray. The bottle's original lavender water is long gone, so I replaced it with tap water and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Mmm, it smells even better than the original stuff.

My little inner girl (I call her Little Sherry) wants to iron her newest favorite sweater. And while ironing, Little Sherry and I start thinking of how best to accessorize the new antique sweater.

So we move on to our closet where we choose a creamy color skirt and pearly accessories to go with the soft pinkness of the sweater.

There's nothing like pearls, whether real or make-believe, to make a girl feel even more girly.

We choose our pearliest looking purse to complete the look.  Now we have the perfect outfit all picked out, wrinkle-freed, and smelling of heavenly lavender.  We're all ready and waiting  for our next sunny day.

Aren't we blessed to have a whole rainy day in which to indulge our playful mood?

~ Sherry and Little Sherry ~

This post is linked to:  Frugal Friday, Show and Tell Friday, Pink Saturday

50's Style Cafe Curtain ~ homemade version

I've been wanting to replace the curtain over my kitchen sink for several months now. It's actually just a piece of pink chiffon fabric draped over a tension curtain rod. I wasn't sure what I wanted to hang up in its place though.

Then I saw the perfect pink and red 50's cafe curtain at an antique mall a couple of weeks ago. Perfect in every way except the length, too long, and the price, $38! So, I came up with a plan.

I got sweet hubby to design a scallop pattern for the top of the curtain.  We make a great team; if he can design it, I can make it. I bought pink and red paisley, vintage-looking fabric at Hobby Lobby along with a package of plastic cafe curtain rings. Using an old white sheet for the lining, I made it just like the one in the antique mall.  Except the price of mine was only $12.

And, TA-DA! It absolutely brightens up and cheers up the whole room! It puts a smile on my face when I walk into the kitchen every morning to make my coffee.

Thanks for stopping by!  Your visits and comments make me as happy as my little curtain does.

~Sherry~

Post linked to: Not Just a Housewife, We Did it Wednesday, Show and Tell Friday, Frugal Friday, Made By You Monday, More the Merrier

"Purse" onality

Oh, I thought my post title was quite clever.  Please forgive my silliness but I'm perfectly giddy about my new purse!  I made it from scraps and with help from a free tutorial at ArtsyCraftyBabe, and I couldn't be happier with the results. Looks a little plain, you think?

But that's only on the surface. Take a closer look at the fabric. It's not just a plain ole canvas. It has texture, design! And if you take a peek inside you'll see a little color peeking back out at you.  It gets me to thinking about people.  There's more than just their outward appearance if I take the time to really get to know them. I had quite a few deep thoughts while out in my backyard snapping pictures of my new purse. :)

By just pinning a brooch on my bag I can have a different purse-onality each day.

I can be sentimental.

This pin was a Christmas gift from my children a few years ago.



The next four brooches belonged to my two grandmothers and my grandmother-in-law.  They are no longer alive but I think of them often, especially when wearing one of these special treasures.



And now comes pins for my color-full moods.

This one below is made of mirrors. It not only shows a glimpse of my mood, but catches and reflects

the mood of those I meet.

And yes~ sigh~ some days I feel quite dull and color-less. 

Oh, but now for the happy seasons!

Ever think of yourself as being unusual?  There's nothing wrong with that now, is there?  I consider this my most unusual brooch.  But look how cute unusual can be.  It's quite old and made from the tiny lens of a child's eyeglasses. I'm thinking someone decoupaged the picture many years ago. 

Here's the back of the pin.  I'm told it was probably from the 1950's.

And what mood am I in today?  Lady-like.  Classy. Victorian.  Yes, I have just the brooch to pin onto my purse for my mood of the day. Well,

I don't want to be too predictable.

And hey, I finished my flannel hankys I mentioned in my last post.  I just cut out little flannel squares, each one a different size but close to 8" x 8", and made a rolled hem with my serger.  Just in time for spring allergy season too!  I have one peeking out of my skirt pocket as I type.

Now that I've splurged on home-sewn gifts for myself, I'm going to make something for my poorly neglected home.  I'm working on a happy, cheerful 50's-look cafe curtain for my kitchen window.  I'll post pictures  (and maybe even a simple tutorial) of my dressed up window as soon as I finish my project! Please hurry back!

~Sherry~

Post linked to:  Whatever You Want Wednesday, Show and Tell Wednesday, Made by You Monday, More the Merrier, Not Just a Housewife, We Did it Wednesday