Overnight Trip and a Great Bargain--or Two

We took an overnight trip Friday to see my son and his girlfriend. We decided to meet and stay at a hotel in Birch Run, MI.....a three hour drive for us and the home of a large outlet mall.

The first store I went in was Pottery Barn. In my small hometown we have nothing like Pottery Barn. I must say I was a bit surprised to see the prices in this outlet store. I found them to be quite high. But I kept an open mind and I did end up finding something to purchase:
These wild purple salad plates were marked down from $6/plate to $3 a plate. They also had a 10% off special due to the holiday weekend. So I bought six of them. I think they will work nicely for a Safari-themed dinner table.

Long time readers know that this is my favorite clothing store.

I have pretty much given up all the local clothing stores and I order online almost weekly from CC. I was excited to get to go in and see and touch the clothing I have seen online. I saw a sweater/jacket that I ordered last Thursday and was happy to see that it was quite cute in real life. I saw quite a few jackets and necklaces that I already own.

I must say that the online prices I get in the outlet store are way better than the prices in this store (the sweather was 50% less online). I did not buy anything here, but I felt really good about the prices I have been paying online. I made sure to drag Dear Husband over to many of the items I own and point out how much less I have been paying!

My best purchase was this pan.

It's a Calphalon One Infused Anodized 4-1/2-Quart Saucepan. There are different grades of Calphalon. I have some pieces of Simply Calphalon, which is not as nice as Calphalon One. I looked up this pan on Amazon. The price is $179.99. This pan was marked down to $49.99 because it had no lid. Because it was the 4th of July, they had it marked down again --to $19.99 on the sidewalk sale!!!
I was pretty sure I had a Calphalon lid at home that would fit. Sure enough I did. Wow--what a good deal I got on that one!

We even found a P. Farm store with items priced half or less of retail.


It's been years since I have been to this outlet mall. I don't really like to shop, but I shopped until I wore the skin off my toes from my flip flops (which was nearly closing time). The we took the kids out to dinner, and went back to the hotel, where DH and son were thrilled to find an old Ms. Pacman machine. After getting a pocketful of quarters they launched an attempt to exceed the high point person indicated on the machine. After just a few tries sonny boy topped the high score.

After a great night sleeping on some very comfy beds, we had breakfast and left early this morning for home. It took us all day to get home because we stopped at a number of difference places--everything from a casino to a Walmart store. To top off the whole trip, I won enough at the casino to pay for the whole trip--including all of my purchases. So all those bargains, 2 hotel rooms, dinner for four--it really didn't cost us a cent!

Ah, Life is good today.

It's all Pea's Fault!

I had no intention of buying shoes. Then I wandered over to Pea's Corner and she had just posted about the sandals she bought. I thought they were great and was happy for Pea's good fortune to find them on a buy- one- get- second -1/2- off sale. Then Pea mentioned the store where she bought them and I realized that the same store was in our tiny little mall. I knew I was doomed.

After work Friday, I ran right on over to the shoe store. At first I didn't see them. I was disappointed, but I really didn't need any shoes. So I tried, but it was OK that I failed to find them.

I was just about to leave when I glanced down at the bottom shelf.............................YES! There they were! Just one pair and it was my size!!!

It had to be an omen. I have never been one to ignore a good omen.

Of course I bought them .

I love the pinkish-peach color and that butterscotch-colored crystal in the center is just enough bling to satisfy my love of colored gemstones (even if they are fake).

But best of all they have a wedge heel just like the pink plaid pair I bought for my 1/2 off the second pair part of the deal.
Yup, can't you just see peach-tipped toesies wearing these sandals?

So, Pea, my checkbook isn't all that happy with your Friday post, but I thank you for your part in cluttering my shoe closet even more than it already is!

Yesterday we went on an overnight trip to see Chicago Transit, a Canadian group in tribute to the band Chicago. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would since I am not a big rock fan. I was surprised that I knew most of the songs.

In two weeks we are going again for a 1950's female singer tribute -- Doris Day, Patsy Cline, etc. I am looking forward to that one. Hopefully I won't forget my camera like I did yesterday.

We got home at noon today and I have worked nonstop ever since. I cooked 3 different main meals (8 meals total), froze some and saved the rest for later in the week. We both have appointments every day but Monday so there is no time to cook. I feel good that everything is ready to reheat.

For dinner tonight I made some Crescent Chicken Squares. It's the winning recipe from the 1974 Pillsbury Cookoff. This is the first time I made it and we both enjoyed it. DH said, "It's a keeper." That's high praise from him.

It's a chicken, cream cheese filling inside a Pillsbury Crescent roll. If you want to try it, just go to the Pillsbury cook off site and put the name in the search box. It should come right up.

Boy, I am into BRIGHT lately!

Not only bright hair, but clothes, too.

I have taken a liking to pink, orange, and red clothing and purchased a jacket that has all those colors.


During one of my recent overnight trips, there was a jewelry sale in the hotel lobby and I picked up this beaded bracelet. It's just an inexpensive stretchy bracelet, but I think it is going to be great fun with the multi-colored jacket behind it.

I also recently bought this orange shell necklace, which just happened to go nicely with the jacket.

I am not sure I like the bracelet with the necklace. I will probably wear them at separate times. I have another longer tassel necklace ordered that I hope will also work with this jacket.It should arrive next week. I have been having a ball shopping the internet outlets. I wait for free shipping promotions. With cheap prices and no shipping, I can't go wrong.

I have not worn this yet. I am waiting for some spring weather. I don't know what I will wear it with. White pants/capris would be perfect, but I don't do white on my lower half. It would be cruel to subject the public to that image. Maybe jean capris.

I have worn the necklace with a different outfit.
This jacket has a lot of red and orange in it. I am not sure you can see the colors. The necklace is indeed eye-catching!

I hope you are all having a great weekend. Tomorrow I plan to stay home all day and get a little work done. I have really been slacking off in the housework department this winter.

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead tonight.

New Year, New Bargains

My goodness, I have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger lately (Please if you happen to have one arm and hang paper, don't send me negative comments--it's just a saying denoting a very busy person).

Yesterday after work I had one hour until my nail appointment, so I dashed off to JC Penney to return a pair of slippers that I bought for DH. You might think that after nearly 20 years of marriage, I would know his shoe size.

You would be wrong.

I was off by a full size.

Anyway, while walking to the aisle to find the proper size pair of slippers, I was distracted by a handbag display with a big 70% off sign.

Oh, my, should I slip an aspirin under my tongue because of the heart palpitations?

Handbags are now where shoes used to be in my hierarchy of life's accessories. In other words, I am pretty fond of handbags. At the moment I like black handbags because since I gave up dresses and skirts for my working attire I wear black pants almost every day.

Look at his bag...

It's larger than my usual, but I love the design.

Look at the price............ was $45, now $19.99.............AND I get another 40% off that price!!

I guess all the red tag items were an additional 40% off. I didn't have much time to look because I had to hurry to the checkout so I could get to the library to return all those books I got during the week of Christmas.

Nonetheless, I did manage to grab a few items: another black handbag and some purple polka-dot lounging jammies.

I got it all for just $37.oo AND the best part..........I had a $35.00 gift certificate! Where's that aspirin?

It was a good day.

Now I am going to sit down and see what Martha has to offer for February. Cute cover, don't you think?

What's Christmas without a Wreath?

I had a bare mirror in the dining room that really looked stark with no holiday adornments. I decided to make a quick wreath since I hadn't done one yet. There's one of Santa's elves hiding in the wreath. He must be checking to make sure I am being a good girl.

I don't think I've shown you the dining room chandelier either.
Here is a full view, except that the tree hides the mirror.

Here is where the mirror is.


I never did get back outside to cut fresh greens, so I used a second wreath to make a centerpiece for the extra table. I decorated it with those candy ornaments that I forgot I had. They were in the gingerbread man tote like I expected.
This gumdrop/candy cane tree is right near the table with the gumdrop centerpiece.

All I have to do tomorrow is bring up the white linen and skirt the food table.

I'm no Prude, but I Don't Like Seeing Naked Necks

I went to the library today. Then I went to the mall. It was only 9 degrees outside, but I purposely parked far back so I could walk and enjoy being at the mall at 1:00 p.m. on a work day. I can guarantee you that this was the only Monday of the year that I was at the mall at 1:00 p.m. There were people everywhere. I literally bumped into an old school friend in the Walden book store. I was trying to walk and look at books at the same time.

When I got home mid afternoon, I thought I would while away a few hours snuggled up in an afghan, with my big stack of books.

The chair I chose to relax in faces my garland. I rarely sit in this room, so I made sure to turn on the lights so I could enjoy the holiday scene whenever I looked up from my book.

Unfortunately every time I looked up I saw the bare necks of all the reindeer. I've been ignoring them all season because I just didn't have time to do anything about them.

Today I had time, so I hopped up and went to the basement to gather some reindeer neck attire. So much for sitting down with my feet up.

Do you remember when I painted these lily seed pods last summer?
I bet you (nor I) never expected that they would end up on a reindeer's neck!

But they worked nicely with the pine cones I used, and the black color matches the lampshades in the room.

In less than an hour with a pair of scissors, a glue gun and a bag of basement junk, I had all the reindeer necks properly bedecked.
Now maybe I can relax.

I Seem to be on a Bit of a Buying Spree

I thought these red wine glasses etched with flowers were gorgeous.

I ordered two sets of them.

Can't you just imagine these on a pink/red Valentine's table? If you can't, you can be sure I will show you one just as soon as these beauties arrive! :)

Last weekend I made a carrot cake that my blogging friend, Patti, from Osagebluffquilter was kind enough to post the recipe for. I thought it sounded interesting since it made a smaller cake (8-inch square pan) The recipe called for carrot baby food, but I didn't have any and didn't feel like cooking and mashing carrots, so I used pineapple instead. I put the remainder of the can of crushed pineapple on top of the cake.

The cake was very good and we enjoyed it for three days.

Thanks, Patti, for taking the time to post the recipe for me.