I'd like a heads up ...

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan of the "pop-in". You've heard the stories, you have listened to my rantings and you graciously oblige me. We have had a couple of slip-ups over the years but I'm willing to look past that. After all, I realize we are only human. 

When we moved into our first apartment I quickly realized that laws needed to be laid down. Ground needed to be set. A foundation, established, if you will. And I did just that. Not sure if the finesse came across the way that I intended it to. I thought of it as, "Please give me a heads up if you are going to swing by so I can make sure we are home." But I fear it may have seemed more like, "Don't you dare show up at my doorstep unannounced, you creepy son of a bitch!" Either way, it did the trick. I may not have come out the hero but what can ya do? Can't win 'em all. 

It isn't as though I am running some shady dealings behind closed doors. Nor am I living amongst heaps of garbage and old shoes. I can assure you that our home is always tidy and I live an honest life. I do however enjoy lounging with a fresh, clean face, wearing yoga pants and a tank top. I shuffle around in ratty, old bunny slippers that are just weeks away from seeing the inside of a garbage truck. I pin and clip my hair in eleven different directions to keep it out of my way. And I make a LOT of eggs. Stinky. I would rather you give me a call and we set up a time. It's not that I am soooooooooo busy that you need an appointment - it's that I want to make things lovely. I want to put on makeup and acceptable clothing. I want to take those god-awful pins out of my locks and spruce up a bit. I want to light seventy four candles to cover up any breakfast, lunch or dinner stenches. And naturally I want to Swiffer the floor so you don't have to wade through Brody's fur corpses. Now that's understandable, isn't it??     

My Mom...

Marie. A lovely name for a lovely lady. That's my Mom. She's Italian and proud, she's a faithful Days of Our Lives viewer and she can make a mean lasagna. What's better than that? 

I met my Mom 33 years ago. Along with my older brother, she quickly became my best friend. I can remember us singing songs and playing in the back yard together. Even the Nights are Better by Air Supply is one of the many songs that I learned from her. She often prepared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich while I prepared for her a dish of plastic berries. Well, I'm sure the thought counted. We had the privilege of spending the weekdays together while my brother was in school. Each week she would take me to the library for story hour with my little neighborhood friend and she would run next door for a coffee and muffin with her friend. We had a lot of fun in those simple times. We took a lot of walks and enjoyed living in "the sticks". Those years are responsible for some of my fondest memories.

Nowadays my Mom doesn't exactly live a simple life. My father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in the late 1990's. That diagnosis changed her life every bit as it did my Dad's. Upon hearing the official news, things went downhill quickly. His poor reflexes and vision contributed to his decision to not renew his driver's license. He fell into a depression. He no longer cared to have a social life. He basically kept to himself. And spent the rest of his time at numerous doctor's offices.We were all devastated for him. We were left with a blank and subdued shell of a wise-cracking, full-of-life man that we'd always known. My mom lost her partner in crime. She no longer had someone to go with her to the beach, shopping or the movies. No more vacations. Not even a lunch date. My father's condition continues to worsen. He now uses a walker around the house and wheelchair otherwise. They are currently in the process of renovating their home to make it more accessible and wheelchair friendly. 

They sure have had their share of challenges over the years. My Mom stays strong. She shuffles Dad off to all of his appointments at the V.A. Medical Center. She also cares for my Grandmother, who is 88 years young and living in their home. Every week she makes several runs to the pharmacy, shopping centers and the grocery store to make sure everyone is taken care of. Not to mention cooking dinner every night and making sure that everyone has their "staples" for breakfast and lunch. No easy task. I commend her. She is quite selfless and she has a huge heart. 

I have now taken over for my father in the way of being Mom's partner in crime. Being unemployed I have had loads of free time to spend with Mom. We go to lunch and window shopping, take rides to Mystic to walk around the little shops and during the summer we always head to Newport and Jamestown for our seaside days. I enjoy it every bit as much as she does. She helps me out at every turn and someday I hope I can repay her for all of her support. She's still the fun, young lady that she was in the '60s - she just needs someone to remind her of that. Thanks for everything, Mom, you are the greatest and you are irreplaceable. 

matches made in heaven...

There are so many material things in our home that I love even though they aren't considered necessities. They were created to sit on a shelf, counter or table or hang on a wall simply for viewing pleasure. Although unimportant and maybe ugly to most, these things make me happy every single day. That is their purpose. I am very impulsive when I see something I like. I clutch it instantly which full intent to purchase it. Sometimes I put it back on the shelf and continue walking around the store, all the while obsessing in my head over this amazing item. Nine times out of ten I will go back, with a quick pace, and grab the must-have and race to the registers. Afterward, I always feel great about my decision, knowing that each piece was meant to spend the rest of its days in our home. While walking around the house today I made it a point to visit some of my favorite things and I took a minute to admire them.

My What's going on? / Bill-paying station. 

I could NOT get by without this calendar.

My plants... they've come a long way. 

It's a happy little green area.

I have always loved strawberries and I remember finding this cookie jar in the Cracker Barrel gift shop a few years ago. It was one of my "must have"s.

I found these canisters at Home Goods and they were super super cheap. 

Coffee, Tea and Sugar. So adorable.

I loved this pitcher when I first saw it and forced myself to leave the store without it. I went back the next day and bought it with the intent to fill it with fresh flowers each week. That got old (and expensive) quick - hence the utensils. Still in love.

Little fruit and veggie magnets. These were my mother-in-laws. When I was dating Gregg I would always play with the corn guy's hair when I went to his house. His mom gave them to us when we moved out. 

And yes, I still play with the corn guy's hair.

I really could have made this myself but I saw it in a magazine that offers personalization and just decided to get it. I like everything about it except the font on the keys. Should have stayed authentic with that one.

One of my favorite groupings in the house... the top of my dresser. The very same dresser that I used as a little girl only back then it had pink knobs and Strawberry Shortcake wallpaper on the sides. 

This is my little "finishing touches" place.

Another Home Goods steal. Framed tiles that match our bathroom perfectly.

Obsessed about this print from the very day that I saw it. Months later, it was a gift from my Mom. 

Thanks, Mom!

Found these old match books for $1.00 each in a consignment shop. Paired with a $4.00 bowl from the clearance section in Kohl's it has become one of my favorite decorations.

Two cherished things here. First, the Theatre shelf. This was the very first piece of decor that I bought. It started my whole obsession. I basically designed our first apartment around this shelf. Haha. Next, the Skeleton keys. I have always had a thing for keys and I bought these many moons ago ...

There are many more items and spots that I adore but I simply couldn't snap a picture of them all today. Maybe someday I'll make a sequel. I just love our home.