Our blog giveaway will be delayed as I am very ill in bed. Please check back. Thank you.

25 Random Things...

1. My nickname was Stackonaroodags when I was growing up. Where my Dad came up with that name I’ll never know!



2. I grew up riding motocross bikes ~ I was quite the athlete and tomboy. So where do all of the roses and lace come in?!



3. I have longer than normal arms and a crooked nostril ~ thanks again Dad!



4. I used to butcher chickens when I was growing up…such fun…not!



5. As a little girl, I had a doll named "Chicago". How many of you can say that? Yes, I was a troubled child…LOL!



6. I love Bigelow French Vanilla Tea and drink it all the time. If they stop making it, I’m in huge trouble.



7. I hate coffee…thus, the tea fetish!



8. I don’t like different food on my plate to touch each other.



9. Seeing people dip their toast into runny egg yolks makes me want to hurl! *shudder!*



10. Spiders don’t scare me in the least.



11. I love being alone and I love my house to be quiet.



12. I’m a complete movie buff…we have about 2000 movies. Literally! It's ridiculous...



13. I spent several years living out of a tent while backpacking through the South Pacific on three separate trips. What a ride!



14. I don’t like "chick flicks" at all for the most part. Action movies are my thing!



15. I have a crazy sense of humor and drive my husband nuts!, and the problem would be?...



16. I love being outside better than being in the house no matter what the weather.



17. I hate wearing shoes. I walk around my house barefoot most of the time even in the winter.



18. I love opera and classical music. My husband hates it!



19. I got the strap in fourth grade for calling someone "Rusty Brains". She was a redhead! Wasn’t I nice!



20. I also got the strap in third grade for throwing a pinecone out of the second story window of our school onto Keith Nicholas’ head below. Terrible!



21. I like things to be "on the side" when I’m ordering in restaurants. Remember the restaurant scene with Meg Ryan in "When Harry Met Sally"…ya…that’s me.



22. When I think of my Dad, it makes me cry. I miss him!



23. I’m Canadian with a love for the monarchy, but don't get me going on the whole Prince Charles fiasco...not impressed!



24. I will never get used to corn dogs in this country. I’m sorry people, but they are kinda gross!



25. While most of you are asleep, I am up cooking dinner at 12:30 a.m. for my hubby who gets home from work at 1:00 a.m. We are abit backward!
    
    

Until next time, ~Stacy~ xo

Spring Will Return...

Spring is nature's way of saying "Let's Party!" ~ Robin Williams. I wonder how many of you want to do just that after this incredibly long winter. You can certainly count me in!


As I look out across the frozen landscape that is my back lawn, I yearn for green grass, chirping birds and gentle breezes. Just yesterday it seemed to be melting, now today it is snowing and covering us again in yet another pristine blanket of white. Fluffy white flakes drift gently down, they appear to be artificial as if they are being shaken in slow motion from the rafters on a movie set. The entire neighborhood is cloaked in a hushed silence.


There are very early signs of spring in our yard though. All hope is not lost! Just the other day I went outside to get some much needed fresh air and came across some small trees that we planted in late fall. I looked closely and sure enough, there were the teeniest buds sprouting forth from what seemed to be only long willowy sticks planted firmly in the ground. A little further down the garden path I stopped to see how one of my lilac bushes had faired through the winter. Much to my surprise, fat green buds were shooting out of all of the branches ~ how wonderful it was to witness such an early spring miracle!


As I gaze out now at the small tree in the middle of our backyard, I notice three fluffy birds perched on the top of some branches near an old nest that has weathered the winter storms. A faded flash of red strikes my eye as the birds chatter to themselves and I look again to make sure I am not seeing things. Three lovely robins, abit disheveled from winter, are beckoning to one another through their cheery songs. Spring might not be too far off after all! Until next time, ~Stacy~ xo

Costume Jewelry Dazzles...

You may have noticed in the past little while that vintage costume jewelry has made a huge resurgence in the marketplace. Everything from dazzling vintage brooches to shimmering necklaces and bracelets are becoming increasingly popular to wear and collect. Originally, costume or fashion jewelry was made of inexpensive simulated gemstones, such as rhinestones or lucite that were set in pewter, silver, nickel or brass. Modern costume jewelry incorporates a wide range of materials that include high end crystals, cubic zirconia and semi-precious stones.

While costume jewelry has been around for over 300 years, the golden era for this jewelry began in the 1930s when rhinestones became popular in the European market. Thus, costume jewelry using rhinestones surged in demand. The legendary Coco Chanel popularized the use of faux jewelry in her years as a fashion designer, bringing costume jewelry to life with gold and faux pearls.

If you love romantic pieces adorned with costume jewelry, you may want to visit Sandy at http://www.mylulabelles.com/. She incorporates beautiful costume jewelry with stunning picture frames, silverware and other lovely treasures. Absolutely delightful! If you so desire, take a peek at my web site at our new Jewels & Gems Boutique for pretty, vintage costume jewelry pieces. Also, keep your eye out for costume jewelry in your travels. With a little searching, it can be found at antique auctions, thrift stores, antique shops and online venues. Remember that it can often be found in unusual places so don't be afraid to rummage through that box under the table, open up that old suitcase and be sure to go through old jewelry boxes that have seen better days. You never know what you will find! Have fun collecting ~ until next time, ~Stacy~ xo

Breathtaking New Treasures...

Today was a busy day! I have been busy preparing some new treasures for the web site and what an array of breathtaking pieces they are! I love being able to offer lovely things, but I love it when you come in just to have a look too! It's somehow soothing to be able to look at pretty things and it's something that I often do during the day when I want to take a break. The huge goddess plaque that I'm offering is so pretty! I wish that I had room on my walls to keep it for myself. I don't think I've seen one quite like it before. I love that the figurine is porcelain ~ so exquisite!

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to visit my blog. Enjoy! Until next time, ~Stacy~ xo

The Goddess In You...

Have you ever seen those commercials...you know, the ones that say "celebrate the goddess in you" whether they be advertising razors, feminine products or a new and healthy yogurt. I find it amazing that there are so many goddess' among us ~ especially when I wake up in the morning and take that first dreaded glimpse in the mirror at my "morning hair". Yup, I'm a goddess all right! LOL! (*_*)

I think that the only way there's going to be a goddess in the Stewart household is to bring one in. So imagine my delight the other day when I happened across this lovely goddess statue at my favorite thrift store. I don't find these pretty, vintage statues very often and I wanted the chance to offer it on the web site, but she had a few problems. What a shame ~ I guess I'll have to keep her! She had a large chip on the base that had been glued back on, some shabby wear (which is fine with me) and a bit of a problem with her head...quite the crack at the base of the neck. I decided to give her a home anyway so I adorned her with some pink beads and pretty bling and placed her on one of my pedestals in my front room. She's still adorable in my opinion. Also pictured is another girl statue that I have in the front room. She is decorated with lace, a pretty bauble ornament and a Marie Antoinette paper heart cutout. I love adorning statues with pretty treasures. (*_*)

A little off topic here, but did you know that Stampington is coming out with a special edition book/magazine this spring dedicated to Marie Antoinette? Go to the Stampington web site to order your copy (http://www.stampington.com/). I'm looking forward to receiving mine! Until next time, enjoy the photos and try to make it through the last little bit of January! ~Stacy~ xo

Panic Attack...Followed By Relief!

Have you ever done something dumb, I mean REALLY dumb? Well, today was my turn for a few moments of sheer panic. I left the gym this afternoon and headed off to my favorite thrift store to see if I could find any new goodies. No big deal. What happened next was kind of a big deal, at least in my small world. (*_*)

Now, when I go to the gym I don't carry a purse. I put my wallet into my gym bag and then when I go into a store I just take my wallet with me. When I go into the thrift store I always put my wallet in the cart and it is within my sight all the time. Today I found a few things including a two drawer filing cabinet that I wanted to buy for my Mom-in-law as she has been looking for one a little while ago. I got up to the front of the store and asked them if they would hang on to the cart so I could go out to my car to get my phone to call my Mom-in-law to see if she did indeed want the cabinet. So...out I went completely oblivious to the fact that my WALLET was still in the cart hidden under the treasures I found...you know...in the little kiddie space by the handle. I went out and called, not home. I then called hubby and he didn't know if she had purchasd one yet or not so I decided not to buy it and just forget the stuff (I usually never do that ~ bad girl!) and head on over to Target to see if I could find a little treat for myself and spend my Christmas gift card. I drove to Target, which, thank goodness, is only a few minutes down the road, turned off the car, went to reach for my wallet and.....WHAT? Where was my wallet? Oh no!

Now, as I continue, I will openly apologize to the dear man that I almost ran over in the Target parking lot as I was careening through it like a mad woman at about 40 miles an hour to get back to the thrift store! I pulled right up to the front door, jumped out and ran inside the store. This is a really busy and quite big thrift store with a lot of people coming and going so I was in complete panic mode. I looked inside by the checkouts and no cart! Eeek! More panic! After doing a quick scan around the front area, I noticed a cart sticking out from behind a clothing rack (and this place has a LOT of clothes!). I raced over and there was "my" cart. The filing cabinet was still there...I picked up a piece of linen and another item and there was my trusty pink wallet on the bottom! I looked inside...no credit cards were taken, my identification was there...nothing was missing.

What is the moral of this story? I don't know, (perhaps don't be so dumb!) all I know is that I thank anyone if they saw my wallet and were tempted to take it and didn't. So nice of you...thank you! And after a small breather, it was off to Target to find a "new" treasure or two and thanks to my "lucky pink wallet", the gift card that was inside is now history! (*_*) Until next time, ~Stacy~ xo