the hard and soft of choices made....

My heart breaks as I retell this story that happened yesterday at a resort. One of the front desk employees was lead away in handcuffs yesterday for stealing 7 liquor bottles from another resort close by...which led to a search of his apt..only to recover other items of incrimination...now his life is marked all because of some foolish choices made....
with a torn heart I write...
Choices
we always have a choice!
expansion or constriction
laughter or tears
doubt or faith
healing thoughts or sick thoughts
the good way or the wrong way
mortal thoughts or spiritual thoughts
it is our thoughts that make up our patina
we always have a choice..
what path do you choose today?

reasons to buy vintage....

I just read a post by Lulu's vintage, and tagsaletales.blogspot.com and they gave a sweet list of why to buy vintage...here is the list with my own french vintage twist....
1. Don't participate in the mad rush to the mall...walk down the path less trodden, create....don't duplicate.
2. Save some money...Vintage is usually better quality for less money.
3. Authenticity-Vintage and antiques have a patina, a story, a beauty all their own..like each one of us..
4. Support small business-It's a great feeling to support the moms and pops of business, knowing you are not supporting large corporations that are not only lining their pockets, but raping us all of the resources our children will need in the future...
5. Uniqueness-Vintage pieces are usually one of a kind....like you and I.
6. History-Like I said before each piece has a story a history to share.
7. Craftsmanship-Many pieces I have found I could never duplicate as the handwork is by far superior, and would cost triple if not more to reproduce...
8. It's the ultimate eco-gift/purchase...no landfill packaging, no use of resources....
9. Vintage has a style all it's own..I love the way vintage pieces can be mixed and matched to make a statement all their own...
10. I love the stories, patinas, chips, distressed, worn, and loved feeling each piece brings to my home and into my life, adding layers and uniqueness, just like moments in our day.

come take a walk with me

Today I got up early with the birds, as their song lifted me from my dreams. They coaxed me out to take a walk with them...and look at the spring treaures I found...Nature offers us so many gifts...when we notice....Wishing you all beauty today...xoxo marie

finally time to put the sweaters up!

Okay...It is finally time to put up the wool sweaters. I either wash them on gentle/cold and pat them dry in a towel-then I let them sit outside in the sun to dry; or I bring them to the dry cleaners. Before I store them I make sure to tuck my trusty cedar sachet into the chest of the folded sweater and then I close them up in a gallon size zip lock if they fit, or go to the larger size zip locks on the market. I always press all the air out before I zip them up.
Here is the recipe for my cedar sachets....
Go to the pet store and buy cedar chips-more space for the aroma to release, inexpensive too...a big bag is around $5.00
Buy these cool self closing large tea bags...I bought mine at the health food store.
Then just stuff them 1/2 to 3/4 full and iron close.
Lastly, tuck the sachets into the chest of the folded sweater and seal up in the zip lock bag and store for the season. Happy Summer!

selling some Lily's on ebay

Just wanted to let you know I am selling some Lily Pulitzer on Ebay today...So here is a glimpse of some of them...Big Hugs...Marie

Hello....Today I wanted to share the recipes for my famous quiche tarts loaded with pics...Every one I have made these for, raves about them...they are yummy!!!!The first step is to get either the ready made pie shells or Pillsbury's frozen pie crust, roll it out real thin and place into tart pans-available sometimes at home goods, if you don't have the tart pan use the foil pie tin the pastry comes in...Okay here is the recipe:
Flaky pastry dough-I buy ready made because I have two children...
4-6 large eggs
1 1/2 cups half and half or heavy cream(depends on the fat content you want to enjoy)
pinch of salt
pinch of herbes de provance
pinch of pepper
8 oz. of swiss cheese
mix all of these ingredients together in a bowl, and set aside.
now in the bottom of the tart pan add a mixed assortment of veggies-I used in this recipe-asparagus, zucchini, squash, spinach.
then I added a layer of the egg and cheese mixture, sprinkled some more pepper on it, and wha la..ready for the oven.
set the oven to 375, and bake from 35-45 or so minutes-use the fork test to check that its done....
some other mixtures i have found to be delicious:
crab meat and asparagus
bacon, onion and spinach
broccoli, spinach, onion, and cauliflower
Hope you enjoy!!!!!!
I'd love tho hear onay combos you might have..let me know.....xoxo marie

happy mothers day flowers

Sending you flowers for Mothers day!

okay gotta share the thriftin...

making the old new again

I just wanted to share two projects that I just completed renewing old clothes. One is.... I bought this cardigan at a thrift store, and I loved it but did not need another plain jane-so I had some old lace-a tablerunner I think and I sewed it around the collar and left the two ends to dangle so that they could serve as a large collar, or you can tie them at the top like a bow. I recieved many poitive comments and it looks great.
Project two was to take old pieces of fabric and sew them together in uneven squares, add elastic at the top and sew-would you believe it-an old curtain valance at the bottom to add length, spark, and finish to the piece. let me know your creative ideas for renewing your old clothes...thanks xoxo marie

renew the composition book

I love making things beautiful...especially my journals that I write, and draw, and find inspiring words, sentences, and photos in daily. Because I am always writing, and drawing I decided to update the classic composition book. I have used fabric, my children's drawings, paint, glitter...you name it I have tried it. I even used the humble composition book for my girls birthday books seen earlier on this blog in which I write their birthday memories, and what their year brought them every year. So any way-Go buy yourself a comp book and play...The creative world is your oyster....tell me and show me what you did. thanks xoxo marie

letters to my daughters

Lately, I have been working on a project called "Letters to my Daughters". Each time a lesson or a reminder of a lesson learned in life comes to my attention, I make a visual collage and write a letter about the lesson. I have tried to cover patience, practice, creativity, etc. Each a letter of love and hopefully a letter to impart loving wisdom. So come view some of the lessons I have learned and hope to share with my daughters, and maybe you can give me some insight into some lessons you have learned and we can make this into a cooperative project. The more the merrier I say, and the more wisdom gained! Thanks for participating....xoxo marie