Now I Know That I Can Do Anything!

I just had the most amazing, incredible weekend in Chicago at an event called Women on Fire. It was an event designed to boost self-esteem, to help discover your passions in life and how to work toward those passions, and to build support among women. I will write more later on about the specifics as I need time to ask permission to use links and pics, but first I want to tell you about an incredible opportunity I had. It was truly a defining moment in my life.

One of the two wonderful speakers we had at this event was the fantastic Stedman Graham. Yes that Stedman, better known as Oprah’s boyfriend. However, I will never look at him as Oprah’s sweetheart again, but as Stedman, masterful speaker, real individual, and the man with a warm, wonderful spirit; the kind of man you would want as your big brother or mentor. He is just that genuine.

As you all know, I have been selling Tahitian Noni products for several months. When a young boy in my life who has been helped immeasurably by using the Noni juice and vitamins heard that Stedman was going to be at this event, he told me that I had to tell him about Noni. I told him that one does not just walk up to a celebrity and do that. He even told me that I should raise my hand, interrupt the speech, and tell him that I needed to talk to him afterward. Again, I told him that just wasn’t appropriate.

On the first day of the Women on Fire event, Stedman gave his talk, and we were all inspired. I was delighted when we were told that we could all have our photographs taken with him! Let me tell you, he is one tall fellow! As I awaited my turn, I realized that I would have the chance to hand him my business card.

A little background on myself: I have in the past been painfully shy. I still have moments of shyness and insecurity. Believe me, all of those insecurities were boiling up inside me at that moment, but when I thought about having to go back to this child and tell him I missed the opportunity to tell Stedman about Noni, it propelled me forward despite my fears. When I stepped up to be photographed, I pulled my card out from my pocket, took my spot between Stedman and my former babysitter Debbie Phillips (founder of the event), and told him, “I hope its not inappropriate, but I’d like to give you my business card.” He said, “It’s not inappropriate. I’ll take your card!” Then I told him, “This is the best stuff on earth!” (Boy, that just sounded like a popular tea commercial.) “Chauncey Billups, Terrell Owens, and Danny Glover all use it!”

Wow, I did it! Despite all my shyness, my doubts, my insecurities, and worry that I couldn’t do that, I did it!

Even though one of the biggest messages of the whole event was that we can do whatever we set out to do, this step of faith and even bigger fear of having to go back and tell this child that I failed, made it possible for me to do what I needed to do.

And now I know that I can do whatever I need to do. I can approach anybody and talk to them about Tahitian Noni or any other subject.

Because I? Handed my business card to Stedman Graham!

PS~ This post is not meant to imply that Mr. Graham uses or endorses Tahitian Noni products.

PSS~ I'm so glad I plucked my chin hairs before meeting him face to face!

New Porch and Off We Go to the Ice Cream Shop!

I am just loving the new apartment! The decorating is coming together so well, and I am having so much fun taking the things that I already had and putting them together in a new way. This weekend I worked on my front porch.

There is a mailbox next to the front door, but it was actually not being used since there are mailboxes up front. At one time, a woman in her 90s lived here, and the mailman brought it straight to the door, but no longer. You have got to love small towns and how they will do little favors like this for people! Anyhow, I just had to do something with that plain mailbox, so I went to Joann Fabrics, found some silk posies at 40% off, and turned that mailbox into a pretty planter.


Next I decided to put my wicker settee out on the porch along with my round wicker table. The settee comes apart so that I could have two separate chairs. I was really craving some pretty red overstuffed lawn cushions for these chairs, but didn't have $50 a piece to spare, so I thought and thought about how I could make this porch pretty. Aha! I took some outdoor chair cushions that I already have, and used some chair covers that I bought a couple years ago and used them as slipcovers. These are from Waverly in the Norfolk Rose pattern. I had originally bought them to use at my house on Bonnie Lane, but we all know how that turned out!


For a short time, I had my red bench out here, but I couldn't crank my windows open because the bench was in the way. The bronze star was going to move inside too, but when I picked it up, there were cocoons on the back! So it will be hanging from the mailbox for now until it hatches its little moths...or whatever those cocoons may be holding.



My red star is also near the door. I found some cool hooks at Meijer that slip in under the siding so that no marks are left, and so that I don't have an angry landlord.


Here is a view of the whole porch. I just can't wait until it gets a little warmer and friends and I can sit out here with a big glass of iced tea and watch the world go by in this sleepy little town.


One of my favorite things about living here is that I look out my back patio, and here is what I find in my back yard...


...the local dairy bar! Yippee skippee!


Just look at the yummy ice cream flavors they sell here, plus the food. Oh boy! This really doesn't do much good for my diet.


It's way too easy to just go up to the windows and make your choice...


...just like my son Jared and his friend Nick did. Well, and I confess, so did I!


And look what you can walk away with! This is a Moosetracks hand dipped cone, but it is sugar free, fat free, so that does help. I love that this ice cream has minature Reeses Peanut Butter Cups in it. Yowza!


So I have to say, I really enjoyed the ice cream cone, and this pretty scene from my kitchen window --


My daughter said that she is going to come visit next Sunday, and we are going to get some ice cream from the dairy bar, then sit out on my pretty new front porch. I think I'll add a couple glasses of iced tea, and that ought to be just about the most perfect thing in the world!

Hope everyone else is enjoying their own little corner of peacefulness!

Tablescape Thursday/Pink Saturday -- Easter 2010

My family and I had a wonderful Easter! My daughter and her husband were unable to join us so it was just my sons, my brother and I.

I'm a little late on Tablescape Thursday, but still wanted to participate. Here are a couple views of my Easter table setting. I wanted to make it very colorful and whimsical. Most of the things I used for this setting are from Goodwill. The only things I had bought new at some point were the white tablecloth that I also used in my Christmas and Valentine settings; the white Claremont dishes and the chick salt and pepper shakers that I got at a deep discount.




Here is a close up of the table setting. I actually did buy the paper plates new for just a couple dollars. For you Pink Saturday visitors, look and you'll spot some pink here!


Here are my salt and peppers. Are they not too cute?



An Easter tree served as a centerpiece. There is pink in some of the ornaments.


I really love this cabbage bowl that I found at Goodwill!


This sweet bunnie dish is by Avon and I found it at a garage sale. Lots of pink here!


I found this egg plate last year. I was going to put deviled eggs in it, but the eggs all fell apart while I was peeling them! I made egg salad instead. Again, you can see some pink in this dish.


This pretty pitcher is just too nice to use only at Easter!


We sure don't want to forget the reason for the season!


An adorable bunny teapot found its place on the stove.


And this sweet bunny was used as a decoration in the living room. See his pink ears and pink eyes?


To see more Tablescape Thursday posts, please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. For more Pink Saturday posts, please join Beverly on Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

Sunday Scramble/Easter Ponderings, and New Bathroom

Today was Easter Sunday, and what a glorious day it was! I attended church where I watched my oldest son Sean in the Easter drama, and what a proud mama I was to hear him play a guitar solo and sing a solo that gave me goosebumps! Afterward, several people came up to tell me how good they thought he did. Later, my brother joined my sons and I for an Easter dinner, but more about that on Thursday! Here is a sneak preview of something on my Easter tablescape.


Even though it's Easter, it's still Sunday Scramble, the brainchild of Justine at Stupid is as Sister Does. This is where I can present a mish-mash of a post including different subjects.


My first part of this is to show you my new bathroom. I am almost finished decorating my new place, and am happy to say that except for the jumble of boxes and stuff in my garage, the rest of my home does not look like we just moved in, but looks nice and settled in.

I've got to say, I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE having a bathroom off my bedroom and all to myself! Since I share a home with two sons (even the dog is a boy), I wanted a very feminine and girly place to call my own. Everything I have in my bathroom is something I already had. I love to put things together in a different manner than I had them before! Here is the result:


Since there are doors on my shower, I didn't need a shower curtain, but the glass doors are so cold looking, so to soften it up, I hung up some lace curtains and strung silk flowers over the top. Now I know that decorators hate fake flowers, but I sure do love those little faux posies!


I decided to dress up my little pink Goodwill basket by stringing silk flowers through the handle and adding a lace doily. Seems a lot of fuss for a little basket that holds TP, but I love it.


To the side of the shower, I have a nice cubby area to hold all my potions and lotions. This bathroom is packed with storage! I am not showing it here, but I also have a linen closet in here.


Across from the "throne" hangs this picture of a beautiful porch. This is the porch of my dreams, and when I have time to "sit," I just love looking at this and pretending I am on the porch.


Below that is a wicker plant stand. I will probably put some different flowers in there eventually.


I am so happy to have a decent sized counter top. I placed a cucumber-melon candle in the corner. On top of that is what is actually a night light, but I like it on the candle. A vintage pink glass is there for water. I've had that guest towel forever.


For my hand towel, I finally put this little floral hook that I got at Goodwill a couple years ago into service.


On the other side of the counter, I have plenty of room for all my beauty products. See, I really do use all of the Tahitian Noni TePoema facial products!

That's all that I have to show you of my bathroom.

Remember this shell sculpture in my boys' bathroom? My oldest said that he really likes it because it reminds him of pooh coiled in the toilet and it serves as inspiration. Whatever! Boys!


When I first showed pics of my new place, I didn't have a good pick of my patio. I just love this space! My fire pit and chairs and grill all fit with plenty of room left over.


There are a few perennials popping up like these pretty daffodils...


...and these lovely hyacinth. I can't wait to plant some more flowers and make this beautiful!



Come back on Thursday for Tablescape Thursday!