Cleveland Rocks!

I've been pretty scarce for the last week because my family & I were on vacation in  Cleveland. 

I've heard so many people ask, "Cleveland?  What's in Cleveland?"   

Let me start by saying, I will not fly.  I haven't flown since 1996.  My husband, poor man, accepts my refusal to fly and will drive anywhere within reason. 

My daughter & I are big music fans.  When we were deciding on a summer vacation, she mentioned wanting to go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  I liked the idea.  Cleveland also has a Major League Baseball team, the Indians, so my husband & son liked that idea.  It is also just under a 6 hour drive from us and my husband liked that idea very much. 

So Cleveland it was!!

The diehard Yankee fans...one wearing

an Indians hat and one wearing a Twins hat. 

Go figure! 

We loved seeing these guitar works of art,

scattered all over the downtown area. 

The Rock and Roll Hall  of Fame was amazing! 
7 floors of amazing to be exact!

Sorry, no photography was allowed inside, but seeing things like

the actual notebook page where John Lennon & Paul McCartney wrote
the lyrics to the song,  "In My Life" complete with words crossed out & doodling
 around the (very yellowed with age) page was so cool! 

We saw everything from Elvis's jumpsuit to Janis Joplin's porche to
Michael Jackson's red leather jacket

that he wore in The Thriller video. 
What a fantastic place for music lovers of all ages.

We were able to take this one photo inside the lobby of the Hall. 

Beautiful Lake Erie. 

I have to say, we really did enjoy our visit to Cleveland.   The city is clean, the food is excellent (Little Italy, anyone?),  and the people are very friendly.  So now when someone asks, "Cleveland?  What's in Cleveland?"  I can give them a full and glowing report.

I'll be trying to catch up with all of you and all that I missed throughout this weekend. See you soon!

Sweet Summer Tablescape

As much as I love the bright, sunny & cheerful colors of Summer,

I also love seeing a softer palette from time to time.   

Come along with me, outdoors, and let's enjoy a Sweet Summer table. 

I draped our small outdoor table with a crocheted tablecover.

That tablecloth makes for a lovely backdrop, don't you think?

Aqua dinner plates from TJ Maxx

Pink Napkins from Bed, Bath & Beyond

 Blue salad plates from Kirklands (I love that scalloped edge!)

Flowered appetizer plate from TJ Maxx

Flatware is my everyday Oneida Ashmore

Goblets from Dollar Tree

Sweet baby's breath in a pretty white pitcher,

a pedestal dish with a candle & candle ring and 

a cute bluebird all come together for my centerpiece.

What is it about these soft colors that make me feel so peaceful & so happy?

Linking to:

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Fall Bug

It would seem I've been bitten by the Fall Bug. 

I think the Bug attacked a little earlier this year than usual. 

It must be the ridiculously warm Summer we're having.

I'm left dreaming of...

cooler weather,

cozy sweaters,

rich colors,

comfort food

and

football.

(and I'm not even a football fan)

I just had to take a Fall journey and I'm dragging you along with me.

 Martha Stewart

Country Living

Better Homes & Gardens

 Better Homes & Gardens

Country Living

Better Homes & Gardens

Pottery Barn

Have you been visited by the Fall Bug yet? 

You've Got Mail (DIY Mailbox)

Sometimes I get crazy ideas. 

I decided I hated our mailbox. 

It was just a black mailbox, plain and ordinary. 

I don't have a photo, but you know the type,

plain and ordinary as dirt.

Last summer, I had my husband give the mailbox

 a nice spray of Rustoleum's Slate Blue.  

It was better, but still plain.

I then went on a wild search for mailboxes. 

Pretty cottage style mailboxes.

Trouble is that every time I found one I loved, it was $300.00.  

Believe me, my name and the word "cheapskate" have

never, ever been uttered in the same sentence, but $300.00?

Really? 

I can find alot of other things I would rather spend $300.00 on.

So, I took that ordinary mailbox,

painter's tape & spray paint

and decided to have a little fun.

I know it's not perfect. 

In fact, there are many flaws (please don't go looking for them any
closer, they're obvious enough)

but for now at least,  it has personality!

Wishing you a happy weekend
and lots of good mail days ahead (no bills, all fun mail)!

Copying the Vignette Queen

Debbie at Debbiedoo's is having another Magazine Copycat Challenge...this time with a twist.  She decided it would be fun to include copying other bloggers as well as magazines for this challenge.  I loved the idea because in all honesty, I find my fellow bloggers to be more inspirational than most magazines nowadays.

So, I set out to copy a blogger, but which blogger? 

There are so many wonderful images that I see on blogs day after day.  It was impossible to choose who or what to copy.  But then, one day, it clicked.  I found the blogger to copy. 

I will admit, I questioned my decision...out of fear.  How could I possible copy her?  She's like the Superwoman Queen of Vignettes!  She has a way of putting things together that I can only dream about.
 
Yes, yes, I'm talking about Marty from A Stroll Thru Life.

I loved this image from her most recent Cloche Party. 

Although our styles are different, and I am in no way a master at this, I decided to put my fears aside, give it a try and have fun with it anyway.



I wish I had that darling chef that Marty has, but since I don't, Doughboy came to the rescue.  I know he's "vertically challenged,"  but then again, so am I.  (no snickering, lol)

Since I don't have wheat like Marty, and I already went the baking route with Doughboy, I figured wooden spoons & spatulas could stand in for the wheat!  (Again, no snickering. lol)

I really had fun copying the Vignette Queen, even if mine looks silly.  Marty, if you should see this, I really hope I haven't offended you with my hack copycat. 

If you would like to get in on the Copycat challenge or just view all the fun copycats, run on over to Debbiedoos now.  This is a party you won't want to miss!

 

The Olympics and P & G

Here's a question:

Am I the only one who loses sleep by watching the Olympics every night?

Day 4 and I'm already exhausted!  lol 

I can't help it, I love the Olympics and I don't want to miss a thing. 

• I love the athletes.  
• I love their determination, their strength, their dedication. 
• I love their uniforms, their smiles, their sportsmanship.
• I love seeing their parents literally ready to fall apart as they watch. 
• I love the friendships & the rivalries. 
• I love screaming cheering from my seat, wishing I was there in person to wave a big American flag. 
• I love the medal ceremonies...oh what pride!
• I love the commercials.
• I love the incredible voice of Morgan Freeman in the Visa commercials that melt my heart.  
• I love the Procter & Gamble commericals that never fail to leave me teary-eyed. 

Have you seen this 2012 P & G commercial yet? 

Although this one is from the Winter Olympics 2010, I still have

to show it, because it's my all time favorite.

I don't think I've ever seen it without crying.  It just kills me.

Please tell me I'm not the only crazed Olympics watcher...

and it's ok if you have to lie to me to make me feel better about it.  

I've been framed!

In the past couple of weeks, I went to a few garage sales.

Something seems to be afoot.

I didn't realize it at first, but I have an addiction.

I keep buying pictures for their frames!

I don't know why I have done this, 

nor do I have any clue what I'm going to do with them,

but I just can't seem to resist.

Maybe the heat of Summer has finally gotten to me.

I guess I better start figuring out what

to do with them!