A Gilded Life

Sunday afternoon I had the very fun privilege of attending a soft opening for 

A Gilded Life

design . education . events

located at 7756 E. Greenway Road in Scottsdale Arizona 

This place is amazing! A girly girl paradise.  

Baskets full...

Bowls full...

Jars full ...   of tiny ballerinas.

Antique cases full...  By the way, this case is almost as tall as me 5'7".

GLITTER

GLITTER

And more GLITTER!

Gifts for your friends.

Gifts for yourself!

A Gilded Life isn't just pretty.

 The ladies of A Gilded Life will be collaborating with 

a large, varied group of other talented people to provide fun classes and events

The Grand Opening is Saturday, October 15th. 

Don't miss it!

September...

This morning I woke up, made the coffee, started watching the news and saw the light streaming in our dinning room window. 

It was so pretty, I just felt like taking a picture of it. 

It felt good to have a real camera in my hands and not just an awkward phone. 

I forgot how much I loved the editing process. 

I forgot how much I loved posting on my blog. 

I forgot how much I loved sharing my photos.

I forgot that! 

Silly!

I just want to pop in and say "hi".  We are in the heat of the summer and, man, can you tell it!

I don't have a lot of news other than I just thought that I would share the minor and insignificant goings on here. 

I was thinking.... and I'm pretty sure that the best cup of coffee is that first one on Saturday morning. 

You know the one that you have after sleeping in, your still in your pajamas and your watching the news or in my case, QVC. lol

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's my fav!

I also thought I would share one of the blogs that I have discovered and two long term ones that I'm not sure I ever mentioned before.

Tania at 50 Is Not Old

In blogging terms Tania is relatively new, but her blog has just taken off. What I love is that she has such similar taste and style to mine. I often can pull together an outfit for work on an uninspired morning just by thumbing through her posts. She also always has something humorous or thoughtful to say. Her blog focus is fashion after 50. "Age is an attitude. Keep yours young."

MK at Outfit Posts

MK is a 35 year old Software Engineer who shares her daily outfits. Young and classy. Her outfits are a little more corporate but still youthful and fresh.  

Both of these ladies are fashion bloggers who keep it real. No super high end ridiculousness going on here.  Real outfits for real women who work and play. 

Angie at Hot and Flashy

Angie is a you tube vlogger that I have been following for several years. She now has a regular feature in Women's Day and is well known. Ladies, we should all look as good as she does after 50. 

Her videos consist of a lot of product trials, how to, and skin care information. Love her videos. 

She talks about drugstore products and expensive stuff. Does it work? Is it worth the investment?

Very informative.

A quick little week end rundown. 

We are going to have some friends over for dinner tomorrow night. 

It's the first entertaining (other than family) that we have done since the kitchen was finished. 

I have a cute little tablescape in mind and an easy menu. I'll take pictures and share later this week. 

So that's the wrap up. I hope you have a great weekend!

Happy Independence Day...a day early.

America loves her red roses, doesn't she? 

This is such a very easy table and centerpiece.

The bowls are prep bowls. I have a set of blue ones and

a set of red. 

Two dozen grocery store red roses. That is all that I spent. 

Seriously simple for a simple meal.

 After the meal I wanted to keep the theme, so I picked a few 

items and put them on my new tray from Hobby Lobby.

Did you know... that the tradition of fire works started on 

the 4th of July in 1777 when 13 rockets were sent into the sky 

in honor of the 13 colonies? 

That is how it all started. 

We're off for some fireworks and ice cream. 

I hope you are having a wonderful celebration and

that you enjoy your day tomorrow!

A break in the weather...

Are you surviving the summer? I hope so! We are and doing well. 

Here in Phoenix we are experiencing unusually cool weather.  In the 100 degree range. Unfortunately, that is accompanied by very high humidity and means that we are officially in our "monsoon" season. Typically, lots of dry storms. But we have actually had rain this year. 

Its been lovely! 

I'm a little light on the blogging inspiration of late. I apologize. 

I'm going to try and do better. Its funny how interests ebb and flow. You will probably be seeing more posts on bible journaling and just plain old everyday life. 

I was looking at our family room and debating sharing it with you. 

I have rarely shared it because it just does not lend itself to nice pictures. 

There are huge windows, lots of white, and a lot of very dark furniture. 

It works and we like it, but like I said, it is hard to capture the true feel of the

room. Plus, we do not live in a stylized home. We live in a very modest comfortable

track house. I try to bring as much personalty and warmth as I can, but still, it is what it is. 

We really do live here. The furniture is comfy, not pristine and usually, there are projects going on. Pile of work papers here, an open computer there... like I said real life. 

That said: Here is a panoramic view toward the kitchen. The west side of the room.

The white bar stools have recently been replaced with two of these.

This (below) is the east side. I plan on changing out the red "faith, family and friends" sign.  I will probably paint it black with the same words in white. 

The "pony wall" is an on going debate. I would like to install a large built in cabinet that would be for storing table linens, with a coffee bar / beverage area for entertaining.

We'll see if I ever pull the trigger on that.  

The back wall. North end of the room.

This little sofa was recently replaced with a full size sofa, that we love. 

I'm still trying so hard to be a green thumb. Shortly after taking this picture this little succulent took a turn for the worse. (bummer) It's still alive, but not looking this good any more. :( 

I am more is better girl and I have a hard time getting rid of family heirlooms. 

So you will see lots of old pictures of family that is gone on. 

This picture is my dad and Aunt Becky playing on the back porch

in the summer time. 

My grandmother took the picture, and yes, my aunt is sticking her tongue out at her.

Simple, old fashion, summer fun! 

What are you doing to stay cool? 

So then what?

HI!

I sure hope you are having a great week so far. 

I am!

I wanted to take a moment and thank my friend Charlene for the additional info and confirmation about my little plant.  It's called Elephant Food and it really does only need to be watered once every 3 weeks! Thanks Lady!

So, May 1st I started a new study on The Psalms.  I'm kind of doing it on my

own, but I'm also using the commentary from FB Meyer and finding it very helpful. 

I usually just do study groups so this is a little different for me. 

But here's the problem. I have already journaled several of the

pages in my Journaling Bible in the Book of Psalms. So then what are you supposed to do? 

Well, this is what I did. I got several Moleskine note books one

lined and the other blank. Of course, I decorated it.  That's how I roll.

So now if the page in my journal bible is already illustrated for the Psalm I'm studying,

I can supplement it with my Moleskine. 

Here's an example of how I do it.

This is my illustration for Psalm 1. 

I am giving an illustration of the versus 3-6.

What I am trying communicate is that (as a tree) when your source is plentiful and steady, 

your roots will be deep and strong.  Helping to withstand strong storms.  

If your roots are depending on scarce sources of nutrients your roots will

be shallow and wide. Prone to wondering. 

Knowing that my plentiful and steady source is God, his word and prayer, 

I want my faith roots to be growing deep and narrow.  

That's what I'm working on. 

Indoor Plants.... I just can't....

When I was at the nursery the other day I picked up a couple of plants. 

If you know me, you know that I have 2 huge brown thumbs!

Indoor plants and I do not get along.

But, that said,  I've recently really had a hankering to have some

indoor greenery.  The real stuff. You know what I mean?

These were called succulents. Seriously! 

They didn't have a label.  The staff at the nursery were 

great so I ran a couple of questions by some one that was 

out watering.

I asked if they would be a good indoor plant and the lady said 

yes, but make sure that you "DON'T OVER WATER THEM!"

I said " Oh so you mean like only once a week." 

She said "No. I mean like once every 3 weeks."

Really?!

Duly noted!

I'll let you know how that rolls out. 

Wish me luck!

I also stopped at Goodwill after work and found this sweet little Homer Laughlin 

covered casserole to put them in. 

We'll see..... 

I'm Joining 

 The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home