A Touch of Fall

Update: I just joined a great party at domestically speaking !

Who's ready for fall? Well I guess I am since I've begun

rooting around the fall decorations at home.

I thought I'd start out small since it's still pre-Labor Day.

A few pumpkins & gourds in the punch bowl to

let Mother Nature know I'm ready for cool weather!

Here's some more of my blue and white collection too.

Spode napkin rings - 4 of a set of 12

A mod podge of appetizer plates collected at TJ Maxx.

Four little fish friends (I like the one swimming ahead)

which are chop stick holders for the table :)

And a small box brought home from Italy by

my parents with a gift in it for my son.

Above the buffet hands my portrait done in St. Louis

in the lobby of the

Well, one piece done, more to come!

I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life & The Gypsy's Corner.

More Lessons from the Store

I told ya'll I'd keep you posted as I learned this new retail world so here's some more things learned as we close out week 3 of the store being opened.

1) Time can be your enemy

Number one ~I never have enough time to get all the "business" things of running a new business done. This includes banking, paperwork, supplies, inventory orders.

Number two ~in the shop I have nothing but time, especially when we are slow. One would think there would be time to do number one above, however a slow trickle of shoppers means I can never "get involved" in a in depth project like setting up tax reports.

2) You think you know nothing and then you know you knew even less

This maybe self explanatory. I thought I knew nothing about retail and would have a lot to learn. Turns out there's a world of retail lingo out there I don't know & probably have only tapped into a tinsy bit of it so far.

3) If you want a friend get a dog

So I already pretty much knew this in the business world, but guess what, in the retail world it's true too~ some customers- I'm sorry they are down right rude :(

4) Happiness can be measured in baby steps

Some days I open the store and hope to get just one sale. Heck some days I open and hope to get one customer~although I've been lucky with foot traffic so far. Other days I've measured success for the day by completion of a display or an inventory order or even this blog post.

Still happy I've opened the store. Still understand it's really early in the game.

Still soooo grateful for all your support, friendship, comments and visits ;)

Scarecrows and Sunflowers

I thought I'd share with you today another tabletop display at the store.

This one is themed on scarecrows and sunflowers.

I love these pumpkin sunflowers. Aren't they cute?

Equally adorable are these scarecrow head bags

& the scarecrow goody bag pants! These make great gift

ideas for Sunday School, hostess gifts, grandkid surprises, etc.

Looks like harvest time to me!
I'm joining Table Top Tuesday and Three or More Tuesday.

Dreams Come True

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Henry David Thoreau

I'm linking to Weekly Words to Live By at Notes from a Cottage Industry, who's blog I adore!

An Angel Left Her Wings

Tonight I join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

for another Tablescape Thursday.

I have this little angel. For me she left her wings.

She has no idea how much happiness she truly brings.

She brightens my days with her smiles and her laughs.

She helps me to remember all the blessing that I have.

Her face, is so perfect, she's sweet and soft and pure.

Sometimes she can be willful and sometimes she's demure.

She tries very hardest to please and do what's right.

She gives the greatest hugs from morning till night.

Every person that has known her sees this light within her soul.

I know that in this whole great world, she has a special role.

She's helpful and considerate to everyone she knows.

This light in her shines brighter as my angel grows.

When she sees someone is sad, it opens up her heart.

She wants to do all that she can; she wants to do her part.

She'll squeeze away the sorrow and make me forget my pain.

She shows me where the sun is when we're hiding from the rain.

I know that God must love me, He showed me with His Grace

I knew just how completely when I saw my angel's face

And in that very moment when she came into my world

I knew that she was so much more than just my baby girl.

She would be my sunshine, with a sweetness that won't end,

And when she grows up one day she would be my closest friend.

She would be the reason I always try my best.

For my little angel baby girl would be my greatest test.

For when God entrusts to you an angel, who has left her wings for you.

Encircle her with love with everything you do.

Let her know God made her, and that He trust you with her care.

Be sure to make time for special moments with her to share.

And when at night she finally says her prayers and goes to sleep

I Thank Him for my angel, and ask him to always keep

A watchful eye and hand to protect her from this world.

Protect my little angel; protect my baby girl.
By Tina M. Marascia

When Miss B left for law school a few weeks ago I must say I felt so proud of her and her accomplishments! I feel this poem represents so much of how I feel about her. A mom at 17, I could never imagine her becoming a law student when that picture of us (me with the long hair) was taken.

Tonight's tablescape was inspired by the wing creatures & my littel angel who has left her wings for Momma :)

Coffee Table Ideas from Mary Carol Garrity

A Coffee Table Redo

Recently I read Ms. Garrity's blog about coffee table ideas and decided yes, my coffee table does need a redo.

So I started with this beautiful linen embroidered
towel my mother gave me as a base.

Then I layered in some of my Star of David collection - a cake plate, coasters and a candy dish.

Finally I added candle sticks and Ms. Bunny Williams

classic An Affair with a House.

I love the scalloped detail on the base of this cake plate. It's a bit hard to see by picture, but the glassware showed nicely against the dark wood table.

Miss Madison would like you to visit these lovely ladies parties to see other great ideas. She would also like her mother to get her to the beauty salon for a trim :)

Metamorphosis Monday, Table Top Tuesday, Three or More Tuesday, and White Wednesday.

Autumnal Display

Tomorrow is our first day of school so I'm into fall and ready to start decorating! This year I've combined blue & white with orange, which

I had done last year, but in addition I added in some rust and yellow.

I love these faux corn cobs to mix in with your pumpkins & gourds.

A beeutiful cornucopia.

The addition of this table runner adds a nice texture.

A line up of pumpkin spreaders and utensils.

Hope you're getting ready for fall too!

Today I'm joining Table Top Tuesday and Three or More Tuesday.

New Store Introduction

It's official. My little slice of retail heaven opened at 10:00 AM yesterday.

I can't thank my family enough for all their love, support and hard work helping me get open in just three days!

You may remember what the store looked like before here.




These are some general shots of each wall.

I will share more pictures later on of each display.

I was very happy with the shopper turnout yesterday.

Now for my long list of what to do & change!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for

Metamorphosis Monday.