A "Beachy" Tablescape

I love the "Beachy" look! I would love, love, love, to have a house... or even a condo!... at the beach! Of course, I would love for it to be right ON the beach! But, I would settle for one that was merely near the beach, as well! **Smile**

I would have SO MUCH FUN decorating it!

I knew that for my June tablescape, I wanted to do a BEACH THEMED one.

Here is what I came up with! -- Once again... please excuse my photography skills!

Don't you love this turquoise beaded bowl thingy to the left?? I am not quite sure where I got it. I have had it for a while. I know that I did not pay a lot for it. Maybe $3.00? I am extremely attracted to all glassware in this color!

I bought the little tealight candles at the dollar store back in February when I was searching for valentine things. I bought two sets of 3 for $1.00 each!

Do you see the seashell salt & pepper shakers?? Those are part of David's grandmother's collection that I have stored up in my attic! I have boxes and boxes of salt & pepper shakers! I guess you would say that these were "vintage".

These light blue placemats are the same ones that I used for my "winter theme" back in January. I picked them up at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $1.00 each on the clearance shelf!

The white plates are the same ones that I bought last fall at the dollar store! I use them all the time!

I found these blue-striped napkins on a recent "thrifting" outing that I had last Saturday. They were only $1.00 for a set of 6!

The white knobby bowls are the same ones that I bought back in February. I think I paid $2.00 each for 6 of them at Michael's.

I found these beautiful blue bowls while out "thrifting" on Saturday. I LOVE the colors! There are only 4, but they were only $1.00 each! 

I was excited to find these fun mini-chargers while out "thrifting"! I had to have them for my "beach theme"! They were only $4.00 for a set of 6!

I picked up this cute little fishy at Hobby Lobby. He was only $4.00, but I paid less because he was 40% off!

I found this pink flamingo at Hobby Lobby, too! He was only $6.00 with 40% off!

Don't you love these candlesticks??!! I found these at the thrift store for only $3.00 each!! I just HAD to have them!! I bought the candles at Hobby Lobby. They were $6.00 each, but were on sale for 60% off!

These cute little fishies are another set of salt & pepper shakers from David's grandmother's collection! They are so precious! They make me smile every time I look at them! I would say that these were "vintage", as well.

The aqua colored votive candle in the foreground is another dollar store find!

This display is on my hutch, which is right next to my table.

The little green fishies on the left are more salt & pepper shakers! Too cute!

The shells in the big vase are just part of the collection of shells that the girls and I found while we were at St. Joseph's Peninsula State Park in Florida last September! I have been waiting to use them as part of my "beachy" decor!

I found this adorable flip-flop dish while out "thrifting"! I love the colors! It was only $3.00.

Hope you like my "thrifty" finds!

I am linking up to these great blog parties ---

Thrifty Thursday @ Tales From Bloggeritaville
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Jimmy Buffet Concert - May 2011

The last time that we went camping was back in Feburary, I am sad to say. While we were camping, one of our friends informed us that Jimmy Buffet tickets were going on sale the next day and asked us if we had planned to buy some. At first, we were reluctant because we would have to drive to Atlanta and then drive back late, after the concert. Not something that David was willing to do! But... our friend who owns a motorhome offered for us and our other friends to ride with them and some other friends of theirs, in their motorhome. That way, we wouldn't have to worry about driving.

So, the next day... we were on the computer ... at the campground!! ... (technology is amazing!).... at 10:00am, ordering tickets!! YAY!!

It was a long wait from February until the end of May, but the day finally came when we would be going to Jimmy Buffet in concert, once again!! --- David & I haven't been to one of his concerts in probably 20 years!!

Here's a collection of photo's from our day of tailgating and having fun at the concert!!

These are SO out of order!! Sorry about that!

Everyone was trying to "chase" the shade! It was impossible!

I couldn't believe how much food there was! - That watermelon salsa was SO YUMMY!

Our little area of the tailgating world!

Me and my two friends, Laura & Brandy.

Me & my friend, Kim.

Words could not describe this guy!

I THOUGHT my friend Laura was going to be in this picture with me!! She bailed on me!

But, then... we did a group photo!

All twenty of us!! --- No. Not everyone rode in the motorhome!

Our ride to the concert!

David & I before we left.

David was ready!

This guy was cruising all over the place! Too funny!

David tries to rest for a bit before the concert started.

The crowds of people begin to pile in!!

David & I waiting for the concert to begin.

Jimmy finally arrives on stage!! Wahoo!!

David and Bruce have their "fins" up! LOL!!

Me & David. I have my "fin" on!! LOL!

It was a great concert and a LOT of fun!! We were extrememly glad to NOT be driving home after!!

My Busy Month of May

Hello. Remember me??

I am the blogger that promised to write every day and has not. I hope you can forgive me! My only excuse is that the month of May has been a busy one and blogging got rotated to the bottom of the priority list! I am a "routine" kind of person and my routine is TOTALLY OFF right now!! And has been for weeks!!

At the beginning of May I was in search of a new job. I was busy working on my resume', making phone calls, visiting other preschools, and going on interviews. Thankfully, I found a new job rather quickly and will begin it in August.

During the middle of May, I was busy winding down the school year at my previous job. I was in charge of making the "Memory Books" for each student, so I was busy trying to finish those so that they would be ready to go home on the last day. There was also the task of packing up the classroom and cleaning everything.

Miranda's birthday was on May 21st. She and I had a wonderful day in Atlanta!

On May 24th, I traveled back to Atlanta with David and a group of friends to attend the Jimmy Buffet concert there! What a BLAST that was!! --- I owe you all a post about that and pictures!

David has had a lot of vacation time left over to take before the end of May, so he has been home a LOT! He has been working in our yard quite a bit and I can now say that I ENJOY HANGING OUT IN MY BACK YARD! Wahooo!!!! --- I owe ya'll pictures of it, as well! I am quite proud of how it looks!

We have also been busy sprucing up the inside of our house a bit! I was on the hunt for a new duvet cover for my bed and a new "look". I finally settled on a white duvet cover so that I can easily change the "look" by swapping out the sheets, bed skirt, shams and throw pillows. Now, if I can just keep my silly dogs OFF my bed!!

I also have a new tablescape to share with you!! I went "thrifting", as I call it and found LOTS of goodies!! Part of what I found was for my June tablescape!! I love it and can't wait to share it with you!!

While I have been absent from my blog..... I discovered that I have been given a few AWARDS!! My friends, you are too kind! I don't know that I deserve them after being "absent" so much lately! I will post about them soon. I PROMISE!! 

We will be leaving for the beach in a few days, so I will be "absent" again! But.... hopefully, I can get into a routine after that because we have NOTHING planned for the rest of the summer!

As I said before... I owe you several blog posts! That is something that I will begin working on as soon as I can. Right now... it is 7:00am and I already hear David out in the back yard watering the plants and cleaning up after our fun pool-side day, yesterday! I guess I better go and help him!!

Toodles for now ~

Summer Arrives With a Birthday!

WOW!! I can't believe that it has been so long since I have blogged!! I honestly don't have a good reason for not keeping up with my blogging OR my reading of blogs. I guess I can only blame it on good 'ol "life" getting in the way! I am not sure why.... but, this month has been EXTREMELY busy!

I guess between it being the last month of school and then my deciding that it would be best if I quit my job and look for another one... time got away from me and I have not had blogging on my brain as much as I usually do!

When you are a teacher, you consider the day after school ends as the first day of Summer. So.... for me.... it is officially SUMMER!!!

This past Saturday was my baby girl's (Miranda) 20th birthday!! She has been asking begging for months to go to Atlanta and see "The Bodies Exhibition". So, I told her that I would take her for her birthday. She also asked to go to Lenox Square Mall and go shopping. -- I'm not sure why. We couldn't afford a thing! LOL! But, we had fun looking and "hob-nobbing" with those that can afford $500 purses. **Smile**

The Bodies Exhibit is at a place called Atlantic Station. I mentioned it in a previous blog post when David and I visited Atlanta a few months ago. When David and I went.... it was like a ghost town! So, I was surprised to find it bustling with people while Miranda and I were there! We had a great time!

The Bodies was VERY interesting!! Who knew that I would actually enjoy looking at dead bodies!! LOL!! Miranda is a pre-nursing student (she should find out soon if she makes it into the nursing program!! Keep your fingers crossed!!!) and for her Spring semester at school, she took Anatomy 1 & 2. She so enjoyed seeing these "bodies" and explaining all the parts to me! I learned a lot from her and was so proud of her and her knowledge that she now has.

We spent about an hour and a half touring the exhibit. After, it was time for lunch. She chose California Pizza Kitchen. Miranda chose the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Pizza. The pizza was SO GOOD!! I highly recommend it! We enjoyed our pizza while sitting on the patio and watching the people (Yes! PEOPLE!!) walk by. There was even a street magician doing magic tricks nearby.

After lunch, we walked around for a bit and then had our dessert at Cold Stone Creamery!! YUM!!!!!!!! This was SO not on my diet, but it was delicious!!!

Next, I really wanted to take her to the Ikea store because... #1 - I knew that she would love it!... and #2 - I love it!! **Smile**

I was right! She loved it! She bought a wire picture hanging "thingy" with clips to hang her photographs on her bedroom wall. (Sorry...Don't know how else to describe it!) I bought a blanket to drape across the end of my bed. It is navy blue. Unfortunately... I have learned that it is NOT the best color to use when you have two long-haired doggies, tho! **Oops!** Oh well.

We hurried home after "touring" Ikea so that we could be home in time for the "rapture". --- If you have no idea what I am talking about... let me know! -- We got safely home about 6:10pm. Whew!

No. I didn't take any pictures during our trip. I know that I should have, and I wish that I had. Miranda seems to think that I am a little too "camera happy", so I decided that I woud give her a break with the camera for her birthday!

My next adventure is tomorrow!!!! David and I will be traveling to Atlanta again with some friends to see JIMMY BUFFET in concert!!!! WAHOOO!! We will be traveling in a friends motorhome and tail-gating all day before the concert! It should be a BLAST!!! And yes..... I WILL take pictures!!! --- I promise!! **Smile**

Only 3 More Days Left!

Yes. I only have 3 more days left at my current job. I have accepted the position at the other preschool. YAY!! I feel good about my decision, I am just a little sad about leaving "my" preschool, tho. But, I feel that God has laid out this new path for me and has new opportunities waiting for me to discover, so it's all good. **Smile**

PROS about the new job:
- I will be making TWICE the amount of money and will now be able to help David out with expenses that he has been struggling with.
- I will get paid twice a month instead of only once a month! Getting paid only once a month is hard. You have to make your paycheck last all month!
- I will get paid all year round instead of only the months that school is in session!

CONS about the new job:
- It is twice as far from my home. I was driving only 9 miles to work and it only took me 15 mins to get there. Now, I will be driving 18 miles and it will take me 25 mins to get there!
- I will be working 5 days a week instead of 3.
- I still will not be "teaching". I will still be a teaching assistant. I was hoping to get a teaching postion, but at least I am getting my foot in the door in case there is a teaching position for next year.

But.... at least I have 11 weeks of Summer vacation to look foward to!! --- Too bad I'm not getting paid for it! **Smile**

Interview today!

I have an interview at another preschool this morning!!

I am trying my best to be calm about it and not be nervous. I am trying to put it into God's hands and not let the worry take over me.

This interview is NOT for a position that I really want, but I am going on it because... right now.... I can't turn anything down!!

I really want to TEACH preschool! And I really don't want to give up my 3 day, half-day, work week... but, I may have to.

The job that I am interviewing for is for a 5 day, half-day, teaching assistant position. I am sure that the pay will be better than what I am making right now, which is something that I need... but... I sure will miss those 4 day weekends!!

If they offer me the job, I think I may ask them to give me a few days to think about it so that I will hopefully have the chance to hear back from a few others that I have talked to and have given resume's to.

Interviewing for jobs is NOT my favorite thing to do!! The questions that they ask are what make me nervous! I get worried that I won't say the right thing in my answer.

I would appreciate any and all prayers this morning! My interview is at 9:30 EST.

The Name Game

No.. I'm not going to ask you to play a game! **Smile**

I saw this article on my msn home page and thought it was interesting. The title of it is ---

Astravaganza?! When parents regret their kids' names -- By Susan Gregory Thomas

I found it quite interesting because I do wonder just why some parents choose the names that they do, for their kids!

My first name is Rebecca. I love my name! But, I am not called that because my mother wanted me to be called "Becky", and that's ok. The problem comes when I have to sign my name on legal documents. On most of those type things, I have to sign my name as "Rebecca". I get frustrated because I always have to check to see which name I am supposed to sign... "Rebecca" or "Becky"!

 Rebecca

When I named my girls, I purposly chose NOT to give them names that would have a "nickname". I didn't want them to go thru the same confusion that I have to go thru at times. Ashley sometimes gets shortened to "Ash", but not by ME! David's step-mother used to call Ashley, "Ash" when she was a baby. I hated it!!!! Now, it doesn't bother me quite as much when other people call her that.

In high school, a few of Miranda's friends shortened her name to "Randy", but I didn't mind it too much. No one calls her that any more, now.

A lot of people choose family names for their children. My mother wanted to name me after my Great-Great Grandmother. Her name was Rebecca Ann. But, my Grandmother (my mom's mom) INSISTED that my middle name be her name!! So, my middle name is "Louise". Not quite as pretty as "Rebecca Ann". **Smile**

When it came time to choose names for my own children, I decided NOT to use family names because I did not want to hurt anyone's feelings by not choosing their names.

When I was pregnant with Ashley, I was working at a day care center. There was a little girl there who's name was "Ashley". This was in 1987. I had never heard it before and I loved it! I actually made a list of names that I liked and then I let David choose which one that he liked the best. The name "Ashley" was at the top of the list and I was happy that he chose this to be her name!

Ashley

Now, it was time to choose a middle name. I had no idea what to choose! But, in the end... I went with the middle name of my "Adoption Doll". (Remember those??) Her name was "Beth Lanee'". I loved that name LANEE' (Sounds like Renee) and had never heard it before. So, Ashley was named -- Ashley Lanee'.

4 years later, we were pregnant again (Yay!) and back to choosing another name. I, of course, had a baby name book and would constantly cruise thru it searching for the perfect name. I came across the name "Miranda" and thought it was such a beautiful name! So, that is what we decided on.

Miranda

Then, it was time to choose a middle name. After much thought... I (we) decided to name her after my childhood best friend. Her name was "Chrissy", but her real name was "Christine". So, Miranda was named -- Miranda Christine.

Back to the topic of the article above...

The article talks about how names have no meaning now and how parents are trying to come up with "original" names. They also are following the Hollywood trends of naming their children crazy names like... "Apple", just to get attention. Is this healthy for children, tho?? I don't think so. But... that's just my opinion.

Lately, I have also noticed a trend of parents choosing to have their children be called by BOTH of their names... such as... "John Michael" or "Gracie Marie" or "Emma Grace" or "John Lee". I used to not like this idea, but I have gotten used to it don't mind it so much. When I was little, tho.... when I was called by BOTH of my names..... I knew that I was in TROUBLE!!! ~ LOL!!

I would love to know the stories behind how you got your name!