Labor Day Sales

There are lots of good sales going on now and coming up for Labor Day.

Here are a few notable things:

First, let me remind you to use ebates if you are doing any shopping on line.  Last week I got another check for $67.  Here's a link if you want to set up an account.  If you need an ebates refresher, here is the original post.

Pier 1 has some great fall stuff out.  Do you forget about them? I hate to say it but I do.  Even though there are two stores in town neither is on my daily path.  But I always find fun things when I do pop in.

fun pillows

Pretty glass pumpkins

Gap has quite a nice sale going on.  Up to 50% off most items plus an extra 20% off with code GETMORE.

Trendy Floral Top

Old Navy has 40% off.....in case you weren't aware, florals are really big this season.  This next little top can be worn in all seasons, alone when warm and with a cardigan as it gets cooler

Gold Floral

Accessory Concierge has 25% off their whole site with code ABC123.  You can pick up this necklace for instance.

Etched Wood Horn Necklace

Also check out the following:

Boden has several items up to 70% off.  But the deals are so good they are final sale.

J Jill also several items on sale worth checking out.

Kohls is always doing their thing.

Loft has a couple of different offers worth the look.

I am back on Friday with another gift idea post.  See you then!

Are You Ready for some Football........

Already we are back to the time of the year of Friday night high school games, Saturday college games and Sunday Professional games.....Yay.....if you haven't sensed some sarcasm in this sentence, allow me to be more clear

Am I ready for some football?

No thank you.  See even though I am not a sports fan, I am polite.

No matter what, I always end up cheering for whoever is losing when I walk in the room.  I can't help it.  I love a good comeback story.  Which I guess is why I am so drawn to sports movies.  Weird isn't it? I don't care to watch an actual sporting event but I LOVE a good sports movie.

My all time favorite is



I love a good based on real event story.  Because honestly life is stranger than fiction.  This one starts tragically but is inspiring and goose bump raising.  It also doesn't hurt that Matthew McConaughey is in it.  I do love a good Matthew movie.

I also watch this one every time I catch it on


Another based on real events and just as inspiring.

Another favorite....


Love this one.  My daughter flips by it as quickly as possible because she knows I am going to say we should watch it. Inspiring movie and Sandra's wardrobe totally rocks.

And then there is always



Goodness there is a lot of tragedy in sports.  But I love this one too.

And  so you don't think I just love football movies.  I also love




If you have never read the book, you should.  What can I say....I love a good story of perseverance.

Anyway, while many are enjoying football games, I will be netflixing, amazon priming and scanning the cable guide for a good movie.

Make it a great Monday!

Gifts that give back

Today we continue our talks about possible gift ideas.  If you missed the first gift post, please find it by clicking

Neighbor Gifts

Now for today and gifts that give back.  I always like to incorporate a few gifts that provide a benefit to the less fortunate.

Here are a few ideas:

The Adventure Project

When you buy a handmade charcoal soap for $20 a family in Kenya receives a new charcoal efficient stove.  Why is this important? - well the average woman in Kenya walks 10 miles and spends over 30 hours per week collecting firewood. Cooking over an open fire is one of the largest killers of women and children.

I bought these last year and the soap is nice.  It will turn your soap dish black but hey we are saving lives here.

With this same project you can commit to providing a monthly donation which provides training for an entrepreneur every month.

Sponsor - They also have specific women listed on the website.  You can read their story and choose to sponsor one.

Sunshine Nuts

They grow, roast and package cashews in Mozambique directly employing over 30 people in the factory, reinvesting 90% of the profits into philanthropic efforts: 30% to orphans, 30% to farming communities and 30% to replicate this business model elsewhere.

Conscious Step

For every pair of socks you buy a set donation goes to various causes like protecting oceans, fighting hunger, treating HIV, providing water, ending poverty, educating kids, planting trees and saving lives.

Men's socks are        $14.95/pair or $44.95/ three pair
Women's socks are   $12.95/ pair or $39.95/ three pair

When you select the socks you want to purchase you can see the specific area you are supporting.

All Across Africa

This is a fair trade market which works with over 3,000 artisans in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi paying artisans up front for their goods so they can send their children to school, feed their families and save for the future.

Krochet Kids

Empowers people in Uganda and Peru to create and sell apparel, knits and crochet hats.  2017 is 10 years for this particular organization.

Bare Soaps

BARE stands for bringing antiseptic resources to everyone.  This company sells soaps and candles, reinvesting all proceeds into social causes.  They distribute soap to slums in India and provide essentials to children in Uganda.

These are just a few examples.....others include noondaycollection.com, humanityunified.org, fashionABLE.com

Maybe you can find a way to incorporate these or another give back organization into your gift buying this year.

Have a great weekend!

August and I

I have a strange relationship with August.  Part of me really loves it because it means a few things

1) we will be getting back into a routine

2) we are that much closer to summer ending....and by summer I mean the super hot temps

3) we get to buy new school supplies which is totally one of my favorite things to do

Admittedly, I spend most of June and July staying up way too late, having way too much sofa time and all the other things that make summer wonderful.  I totally don't get this about myself because just because the kids are not in school doesn't mean I don't have to go work.  I still have to go.  So why I punish myself with these bad habits I have no idea.

And then.....

August comes and the kids have to get up and go to school and one has to even go back to a dorm. And I don't like it.  It means I have to ask about homework and tests.  It means we can't just watch reality tv and netflix.  It means I have to up my quantity of Boar's Head Sweet Slice ham for packing lunches and make sure we have bread.  So, August, these are not things that make me look forward to you.

In the past I would get myself pretty worked up with lists and checking and double checking everything.  And every year I would have to remind myself we have this adjustment period every single August.  I have to tell myself there is nothing to worry or fret over, we do this every year.  We are adjusting....that's all....adjusting.

Does your routine change this time of year?  If so, just take a deep breath and give yourself a break.  Allow yourself a few weeks to adjust and know that you and all those in  your household will get back into the routine.

After all, you know what makes this adjustment period well worth it, the two months of total leisure and bad habits.  Yep, wouldn't trade that for anything.

See you back here on Friday for another gift idea post.

2nd & Charles - my first experience

Maybe you are aware we have a new store in town.  It is 2nd & Charles and it is located on the corner of Hwy 72 and Wall Triana.  It is in the Planet Fitness Shopping Center.

I had no idea what this store was.  It is new to me.  Driving by one day, I commented on what could it be and my husband said it is some kind of place where you can sell stuff and buy stuff.  Well I think I shall like this place very much....I like to sell stuff and I like to buy stuff.  This weekend I finally had a chance to check it out.  First of all, let me just say it is very organized.  There were tons of movies and games on the left, lots of books on the right and I think I even saw a sign for vinyl.

So today I am just going to share my buying experience.  I am going back later for the sell experience.  All the books are in alphabetical order by Author.  So if you know of an author you love, you can head straight to their section and see what they have available.

I just happened to turn on the H-aisle and there was sweet Elin Hilderbrand sitting right there to greet me.  There were several of her books that I had not read.   The hard back books of hers were in the $8-9 range the paperbacks were in the $5-6 range.  I bought 2 of Elin's books.  Since I was on the H-aisle I went ahead and checked out Kristin Hannah's section.  She is another favorite of mine.  I picked up one of her books as well for $4.70.  All the books are in really nice condition.....if they didn't tell me I wouldn't know there were used books.

They are a bag free store.  So either carry a bag or be prepared to carry your finds out in your arms.  As luck would have it they have a little reusable bag they will sell you for 99 cents.

When we exited the store they had a huge bin on the sidewalk that had FREE books....since I still had room in my new 99 cent tote, I took a look.  Actually, there were some good finds in there.  I got Tim Russert's Wisdom of our Fathers.  I owned this book and read it several years ago.  I really loved it.  I loaned it out to someone and it was never returned.....now I have another copy.  I also picked up John Macarthur's Book on Leadership.  I think I have many weekends ahead in this store. I occasionally download and electronic book and even an audible book but I still prefer a good  ol'fashion hard copy.

When I go back for my selling experience, I will be sure to report back and let you know how it goes.

Have a great week, girls, Take care of  your eyes during the eclipse!

Gifts for Neighbors

Today is the first in the gift idea posts.

I hope to share a few ideas I have and would love to hear from you.

Neighbors - we exchange gifts with the two neighbors who live on either side of us.  It is not a big elaborate thing, just a small gesture that says "our family wishes your family a Merry Christmas".

I always think consumable gifts are good for everyone because they require no storage.

Hobby Lobby always has cute Christmas tins or paper baskets that are good to fill with treats for the neighbors family.


We have filled baskets with brownies - I prefer the Ghiraldelli Double Chocolate Mix or these Mocha Brownies from the Pioneer Woman.

I also like to use the Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix



My friend Meg introduced me to making this delicious puff caramel corn recipe that everyone loves.  We make it and put it in individual bags.

Now if baking is just not your thing.....no worries.  Another great consumable is a live poinsettia from a local nursery.  They are beautiful to have on display during the holidays but not necessarily something we all go out and by for ourselves.....so it makes a nice present.

You can also pick up live wreaths at your local nursery and tie a nice bow on it prior to delivery.  If, however, you want one all dolled up and shipped directly to someone, check out these from QVC.  There is a church option or a truck option this year.  You choose the date you want it delivered and you can have it sent directly to the person.  I have ordered these several years as gifts and have been very pleased with them.

Other ideas would be my all time favorite holiday candle - it is the Bath and Body Winter scent.


You could pair this nice candle with a nice lighter like this one and make a great gift.



This not only comes in silver but a festive red if you so desired.

Of course, Bath and Body will also have great holiday hand soaps and I am always a fan of the William Sonoma soaps that come out around the holidays.

So those are a few of my neighborly ideas.  I hope you found something that could work for you and those who live near you.

Living the Dream Series - Jansyn Gordon

Today is the last installment of the Living the Dream Series.

If you missed the first two please click below

Kim Wright
Katy Brooks

Now for today......Jansyn Gordon

Photo Credit: Marla Laramie

Jansyn is a junior at Westminster Christian Academy.  She began taking art lessons when she was 9 years old.  It was obvious she had both a love and a talent for it.  She has always loved to craft things and so her business was born.  She began by making greeting cards, progressed to making wedding invitations and now does custom artwork of pets, scripture art and pretty much anything that a person wants drawn or painted.  She has won two awards at the state wide Spanish Conference for her artwork and currently has a piece featured at the Huntsville Museum of Art.  Now here is Jansyn in her own words.




How did you get into running your own business?
Well, I have always loved art. Whether it was making a greeting card for someone or doing a painting for their daughter's room, there is nothing like seeing a smile on someones face from the art you have done from them. As I began to practice art more and more, I got much better with it. I guess people noticed my talent and passion for it! People would ask for a drawing and I would do it and they would share with their friends. Eventually, more and more people kept asking and my "business" was created! 

What was your greatest challenge?
My greatest challenge is probably my schedule. I am very busy all the time, but I always make time for art.

How do you balance it all?
I have been told if you love something, you will make time for it. I love art; it relaxes me and just makes me happy! I have an art class I attend on Wednesday's nights. That way I know for at least an hour and a half out of the week I will have time to be creative.

What is the favorite thing about what you doing?
I love to see the reaction people have to my art. Sometimes at competitions, I will stand back and watch how strangers react to my art. Art should be thought provoking. If someone stops and silently stares at my art, I have to wonder what they are thinking. One time at a competition I entered a watercolor of a women with flowers in her hair. A couple walked and stopped to look at my art. The girl stopped and said "She's beautiful." The guy looked at her and said, "Just like you."Another time one of my teachers took my art home with her. Her very young son saw it, and his reaction was priceless. She sent me a video of him saying "It's beautiful!" It sounds cheesy, but these reactions drive me to create more.


Did you have mentors, formal training or did you just learn as you went along?
I started art lessons when I was 9. I took art lessons with Mrs. Vonda at Artistic Minds and she has been such a help to me. She makes sure you are educated in all mediums and not just one. I would 100% recommend taking lessons or even attending a paint party there. I am so blessed to have a job there and I love it!

What's the key to making your business work?
Listening to the customer and giving them what they want. My business is all word of mouth so I have to make sure my customers are happy!

What's coming up for you that you are looking forward to?

I recently got into copic markers! I am very excited to see how I can use this for my customers.

What advice do you have for a woman thinking of stepping out and starting to live her own dream?
Just do It! Start small and go from there. Enjoy the process and make sure it makes you happy!



This girl amazes me.  She has such a talent and works so hard to get better and better.  I can't wait to see how God continues to use her talent.  Here's a look at a few things she has done in the past.

Tried another Pin

I pinned this one on Pinterest a long time ago.  I thought I would give it a try this weekend.  You know how people like to journal and then lose their stick-to-it-ness.  Well this was an idea to help all of us who want to journal but who get overwhelmed and quit after a few weeks.

It is called a berry basket journal.  Here's the finished product

And now let me walk  you through the steps.

Here are the supplies:

You can find these berry baskets everywhere these days.  I got these at Michaels.  They were regular priced $6.99 but were on sale this week at 30% off.   You will also need index cards, some type divider (I used these precut tags), a date stamp and an ink pad.

First cut all your index cards to fit your basket.

Then stamp each card with a month and date

Then stamp your divider with the month....and I added a little bakers twine.

You then simply assemble by putting in all  your month dividers and putting the index cards behind each.

The idea is this little basket is small enough to fit on a bedside table or perhaps where you have your quiet time.  The journaling should be less intimidating because you simply jot down one little thing each day.  Many of the comments talked about doing this for a new mom who could write something quickly from each day, a bride for the first year of marriage or really anyone who wants the opportunity to make a note from each day.  You could write things your thankful for, things that went well, someone to pray for or just something that made you smile that day.

All kinds of variations were used for the dividers - old postcards, scrapbook cardstock or even  these gift tags like I used.

These would be cute gifts for many people on your list.  It comes together fairly quickly.  Although I will warn you it takes about an hour to stamp the month and date on all the index cards.  If you are going to make several, you might do what I did.  Since I was making 3, I lined up three index cards and stamped all my Jan 01's, then my Jan 02's etc.  This just saved time so I didn't have to keep dialing my stamper.

Hope you enjoyed me actually trying another Pin today.  Feel free to follow me on Pinterest if you like.  This particular one is on my craft board.

Have a great Monday!!!!

Friday Finds on Haute Look

I scoped the internet to find some fun things to show you this week.  I started at Hautelook.com and didn't have to go any further.  They have some great brands featured right now.

First up, Free People

Pintuck Blouse

I think this is a great blouse.  I would wear it buttoned up just a tad more....ok a lot more.  But I think it would be good as a layering piece and also alone with some great jeans.

Hoodie

I think this is a hoodie with a little extra. It has a nice cut and the sleeves have that extra shirring detail. It is that dressed up athlesiure look. Black or Silver

Hautellook is also featuring one of my favorite jewelry brands.  If you don't own any Lucky jewelry......you should.  I have a couple pieces from them and I really like them.  Here are a couple of examples.


This Pave necklace is only $12.97




This two toned collar necklace is only $16.97 and comes in a couple of color options.

Chunky chain bracelet only $12.97

Those are just a few things that caught my eye but there are several long necklaces, layered pieces, rings, earrings, etc.  Worth taking a look.

Baggallini bags are also featured.  If you are not familiar, these are super lightweight bags with lots of built in storage.  This black cheetah one is super cute and may have been put into my cart.
Here is the inside


See that's nice, right?  Only $24.97

And I think these would be great for travel
Backpack in 4 color choices.




This cute top comes in this pretty blue and a black.  It would just be a great top to throw on for weekend wear.

And I absolutely can't wait to come home and put on tops like this one.



Have a great weekend girls! Talk to you on Monday.

Living the Dream - 2nd Edition Katy Brooks

Welcome to the 2nd installment of Living the Dream.

If you missed the first one, you can read it here.

Now let me introduce you to Katy Brooks
Katy has an eye.  You know people like that who think of using things like you never would, who make every little knook and cranny looked planned and adorable......yep, that is Katy.  She has a natural talent for decorating, hosting, cooking and general festivities. Now here's Katy......

Hey everyone! I’m Katy and I’m a girl with many loves…the Lord Jesus Christ, my husband of almost 4 years, my family, my hometown, my fur niece, Chic-fil-A and interior design…just to name a few!

I’m practically a Huntsville native having moved to the area when I was in first grade. I’ve left briefly a few times- to attend college at Pensacola Christian, to intern at Camp Victory in South Alabama and to live in Jacksonville, FL with my husband after we married in 2013.  Fortunately, we have moved back to Huntsville now, and being back in Huntsville and living near my family is definitely my happy place!

I work at a local church as a ministry assistant and in my free time I like to cook, blog, attend Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and shop!

For about a decade, I’ve been helping friends and family decorate their homes and corporate spaces. I love helping everyday people work with everyday budgets to create beautiful and personal spaces.

How did you get into running your own business?

Since I was a little girl, I’ve been drawn to all things home- especially beautiful spaces. My family used to explore home construction sites in our neighborhood, analyzing the floor plan. I also grew up watching my mom take great care in decorating our home.

Around 2006, friends started approaching me to help them decorate their home. For a couple of years, my client base was a few friends who let me hang their pictures but over time, my friends told other friends who told their friends and word spread, creating a larger client base, which allowed me to expand my services beyond just hanging pictures (though I still love that part!).

I eventually got business cards and started a design blog, to get the word out that I’m here to help the everyday person beautify their home.

What was your greatest challenge?

My greatest challenge has always been acquiring new clients. In 2013 I moved out-of-state when I got married. During the three years I was gone, the momentum in acquiring new clients dwindled. I have a handful of faithful friends who hire me occasionally but I’d like to see my business keep growing to include new clients and projects.

How do you balance it all?

One of the best aspects of running my own design service is that I set the hours and fees! I work a full-time job outside the interior design industry, so weekends are when I’m most available to clients. The initial consultation is usually about 2 hours, which involves seeing the space and making a plan, unless it’s a project I can start immediately (like hanging pictures or arranging furniture). My clients understand that family time is important so we work around both our schedules.

What’s your favorite thing about what you are doing?

My passion is helping clients make their home a retreat that reflects their family and personal style. I

especially like helping clients with little or no budget (though I don’t turn down a large budget!). I love bringing order, color and personality to a space. There’s no need for people to live with empty walls or pictures hung too high! No matter the budget, one of my favorite things to do is shop my clients’ home, gathering items from other rooms, the attic or the garage. Not only is it free, but finding hidden pieces or using something in a new way is a great way to add personality and family history to a space.

Did you have mentors, formal training, or did you learn as you went along?

My bachelor's degree is in Home Economics and includes several courses in interior design. In 2011 I completed several classes toward a UAH’s College of Professional and Continuing Education Interior Design Certificate. After taking those classes, I enrolled full time in UNA’s Interior Design program. I was halfway through with that degree when I got married and moved out of state for a few years.

All my classes were beneficial and helped me further develop an eye for, color, space planning and design.

What’s the key to making your business work?

Clients! I rely heavily on word of mouth, so sometimes it’s hard to acquire new clients. I also have to fight some people’s misconception that hiring a designer is only for the wealthy. I try to keep my fees affordable so that anyone on any budget can afford to hire me. I’m also willing to keep all work and any purchases within a set budget.

What’s coming up for you that you are looking forward to?

I just launched “Design from a Distance” a new service that allows those outside the Huntsville area to hire me to design a space. A long distance client can email me pictures of their space and complete a design questionnaire. I will send them back paint color and fabric suggestions, a space planning floor plan and an inspiration board with suggested purchases.

What advice do you have for another woman thinking of stepping out and starting to live her own dream?

My advice to those women would be to go for it! Though many of us need to be in more mundane jobs to make ends meet, having a creative outlet injects energy into my life. Start small by reaching out to friends and let word of mouth be your best marketing tool! It’s better to live with an extra 2000 business cards than to live with the regret of not pursuing what you love.

I can't recommend Katy enough. She is currently working on our guest bedroom. As soon as she is done I will be sure to post pictures here. In the meantime you can see some of her work on her design blog and in the pictures below.

July Book Review

I may or may not be guilty of the above.

But here are the books I  managed to read this month.

First up


Now this was interesting.  The positives about it: Good writing, very descriptive, wonderful mental images painted, great complex characters, a bit of dry humor and several moments that make you go - oh wow!

The negatives: tons of characters,, sometimes hard to keep up with you is who and even harder to remember how people relate to each other, very frequent and creative ways to insert the F-word.

When I read the reviews about this book, several people commented that this was a very accurate depiction - all I can say is  jiminey crickets! I enjoyed it but not sure I will read the others in the series.  If I hit a book dry spell, I would probably go back to these because it was very entertaining but I am not off to add it to my cart today.

Next up


This was my first Nancy Thayer book and I LOVED it! This one is about Courtney, a girl from Kansas, who is the college roommate with a girl from Nantucket.  Courtney spends several summers on the island with this roommate's family.  This family has so much going on - secrets, illness, weirdness and lots of love.  I loved all the characters and cheered for them until the very end.  Excited to have found Nancy Thayer and very thankful to my friend Lindsay for gifting me with this book!

I am off to add some more Nancy Thayer books to my cart!

Lindsay was also kind enough to gift me with this next one.



This is one of my favorite kind of books.  It is inspired by a true story.....a story I had never heard of which makes it even more interesting to me.  The book cover desribes it like this:

Based on one of America's most notorious real-life scandals--in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country--Lisa Wingate's riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

I was drawn to these characters.  Honestly, as I am reading it I am thinking what a great story this is......then I am reminded this actually happened to people.  It is true, my friends, life really is stranger than fiction.  Lisa Wingate tells the story wonderfully.  I recommend this one highly.

This was a good book month.  Fingers crossed that next month I will be just as fortunate.  Hope you are reading some good things too.

Falling into Jackets

I don't know about you but mentally I am moving on to fall.  So I spent a little time finding a few cute fall jackets.

This one is a cropped olive color for only $27.95



This is a faux leather jacket that comes in five color choices and is in both regular and plus sizes. It is by Serena Williams and is marked down from $99 to $29.95




This one is on sale for $49.95 thru the 6th.  It comes in 3 color choices regular and petite.


If you need a new denim jacket, Loft has this one in a cute wash. It comes in both regular and petite sizes XXS-XXL





Blush seems to still be a trending color for fall. this one comes small-XXL



And bomber jackets are definitely back  Target has this one for only $24.98.

Hope you all have a great weekend, don't forget to use Ebates if you are shopping on any of these sites. See you on Monday.