HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPS................

Today is my Dad's birthday.....except he is not here to celebrate it with us this year.   You see, he passed away from Cancer a little over a year ago.

I don't like to say "lost his battle" because he fought hard for 12 years and beat so many different types of cancer.  It just kept coming back for him, he was stubborn but at last was taken to a better place.

 It was on my husband's birthday and 4 days before Christmas, needless to say we weren't interested in celebrating anything that  year.  This past Christmas wasn't much different except we were prepared for him not being here.

I get sad often, but I would rather be happy for the time he had here on earth with us.  I will forever remember our family vacations horseback riding up in New York State, to Wildwood and all the other fun stuff we did.

I wish some things could have been different, but everything happens for a reason.  It's all part of God's plan.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPS!!!!

David J. Belford III

1939- 2011

Here is a poem my brothers and I chose for his service

God saw he was getting tired

and a cure was not to be

So He put His arms around him

And whispered, "Come with Me."

With tearful eyes we watched 

him suffer

And saw him fade away.

Although we loved him dearly, 

We could not make him stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.

- Author Unknown

- MJ

SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS

A box arrived for me on Monday, and I was thrilled to find what was inside.  I've had a crush on this sweet little cup from my fellow Etsy shop owner Amy.   Amy has an awesome Facebook page and an Instagram too where we follow one another.

I love and am inspired but other artists and collectors creativity....I try to shop as much as I can from them.

I want to start sharing a few of them on my blog as I come across cool things or as they happen to arrive at my home.  (hehe)

I was working on a Springtime project, so when this arrived she went right up at the top of the shelf and it works perfectly.

Junk Love and Co

My new treasure in her spot on the display shelf.

I love the way Amy packaged everything.

She is a strong and inspiring lady so only fitting this post goes up on International Women's Day!!!

She has the coolest business cards, they feel and look awesome.

The Book Art is new and my favorite, can't wait till she puts some in her shop.

You can check out more of Amy's cool stuff in her Etsy shop HERE and her Facebook page HERE

ALWAYS TRY TO BUY FROM SMALL BUSINESSES, CHANCES ARE YOU WILL FIND GREAT STUFF AND IT WILL BE APPRECIATED SO MUCH MORE.

THIS INCLUDES YOUR FELLOW SHOP & ETSY OWNERS IF YOU ARE A OWNER YOURSELF. 

-MJ

FAMILY SHOPPING DAY

Last week  I had asked my husband to go to IKEA with me...haha.    We were actually looking for a entertainment piece to sit his huge TV on in the football room.    The football room is now being transformed into the new family theater room (I told you I have a ton of projects going on).

We have the 2 yr old home in the daytime, but decided to pick up our 6 yr old from school at lunch time and take her with us as well.    I thought it would be a fun trip...kinda like a museum where you just are walking through rooms of stuff to look at (okay maybe it's just like that in my head)

The girls had a great time....they were oooohing and aaaaahing the whole way and saying "I  want that"..lol

After we made our way through the top level, you end up never the IKEA restaurant area.   We decided to grab a bite.   I have had their hot dogs and their ice cream but nothing more.

Cool trays

Samayah watching the planes land at Newark Liberty Airport

My husband grabbed a Greek Salad and a wrap (which he ate before I could take a pic)

I went for the meatballs, veggies and potato/broccoli medallions

Kemorah on the last licks of her frozen yogurt cone

This is my stash I came away with..

Bath rugs

Curtains

Bedspread

Plastic Food Storage Set

Entertainment piece (still in van) 

Yes those are Santa Clauses ( I shop off season and save)

Now.....I am also a blogger on the Woodbridge Patch website and I posted this account of my day there as well.   I mentioned that 1-2 days later, it came out about the horse meat.   I didn't say that this particular store was guilty of it,  just that the company came out and said there were traces of horse meat in their food.  

Well let's just say that readers were not happy and left some not so nice comments on my 1st post for the Patch.   But I answered in a calm and collected comment but I welcome all feedback so no sour grapes here.   

If you want to read the comments and the original post on the Patch you can see it HERE

And you can follow my posts on the Patch as well.

-MJ

SHOPPING THE GARAGE

I'm working on the kitchen area right now.   I have decided on keeping and painting the buffet piece, however I have nothing to hang above it.   I previously had artwork, then the big metal hotel mail holder.

I wanted a plate rack or something like that.............so onto Craigslist I go again.   I didn't really find anything quite like what I had in mind.

Then I was in the garage and found a shelf piece a friend of mine gave me for my shop.   I brought it in and it was scratched up but already painted in the Vintage White chalk paint I was using on buffet.

This pic was when I originally painted it for the shop

Called in Big Daddy to help with the installation because this baby is solid wood and heavy as heck.

Here is the finished shelf   

It is filled with Spring/Easter treasures ....more of the whole area in another post HERE

-MJ

* this was suppose to post up yesterday...i dont know what happened Blogger ?????

SPRING IN MY STEP...........

It's been a rough couple of months, but Ive finally got some momentum going and projects are coming in and I can focus on them.  Everything was on hold because of the move, but since that deal fell through we have decided to wait till next year.

So that means lots of Spring projects are upcoming, along with the Vintage Rentals and decorating clients projects too.

Here is a new are in the kitchen that I worked on over the weekend.   I moved out my big old metal mail holder into the soon to be finished "closet room".  More on that later this month.    After moving the metal piece I had this buffet but wasn't sure it would hold all of our dishes.   I have several sets that I use depending on what we are eating (strange I know...but hey I have a bit of a dish fetish)

We were looking for a new piece to go in the space, I searched Craigslist for a pie safe or a hutch style cabinet.    NOTHING!   Booooo    So I decided let's give this buffet a shot, I do like it alot and it's a really good piece.   It is a Pennington Pine piece and the wood is so substantial and I just like it alot.

Out came the CeCe Caldwells Chalk Paint and a brush and I went to work..... 

1 hour later I was done. Gave it a little rub down and on to the vignette part of it all.

HOPE YOU ALL LIKE MY SPRINGTIME VIGNETTE...............

This hutch was given to me by a friend for the shop to display items...it worked perfect above the buffet area.   I always have a seasonal display somewhere in the house.

My handmade wood garland on twine looks great with my collection of vintage tart/jello molds and cookie cutters.

Love this hand-painted ceramic piece I found at a thrift shop last year

Some pretty paper garland courtesy of Martha Stewart atop a big glass jar filled with "grass"

My bunnies...the 3 in the center Ive had for years and represented my 3 children.  Now I need to find another 2 to make party of 5.

Mr. Rabbit with an old duck egg colored basket which is holding napkins and dessert plates. Ceramic bunnies hold grass and painted eggs.

Here is a view of the buffet and the tabletop display

Here is the new seasonal vignette area in the kitchen.

This area will be great to display my favorite things during the holidays and it's functional too.  The buffet top lifts up on both side to a nice size for serving food.   Bottom area hold a ton of dishes..I have 6 sets in there right now...and my smaller dessert dishes in the bottom drawer.  

Im very happy........sometimes you gotta shop your own house and use what you already have!

- MJ

MONDAY MAKEOVER

Technically it was done Sunday night into Monday morning....I don't go to sleep till after 2 a.m. most nights.

I got this buffet last year from a women who was clearing out her aunt's home and I just loved it.   Only thing for me was just too much wood, I have been waiting to paint it for a while.  No time like the present.

This is a picture of it when I had it in front of the check out area in the shop.  It is a Pennington Pine piece and very well made.

I haven't seen these old friends of mine in awhile....I was excited.

I also figured I would paint the old toolbox I picked  up at the flea market on Saturday

Here is the finished piece.....Big Daddy and I had a little discussion and oddly agreed that the center draws should remain natural wood finish.

Excuse the odd photo, Im trying to hide the rest of the vignette....you see this is now part of a new kitchen area....there are lots of projects going on here.  I will be sharing them all as they are completed.

-MJ

Linking up here:

WHAT'S MY TABLE NUMBER?????????????

Well before I closed the shop I had redesigned the back of the stop to be the "Wedding/Event Lounge" where all of my rental pieces were displayed in vignettes with other items to create the perfect event.

This week, a great wedding planner friend of mine Tania of TD Event Planning & Photography asked if I had a table assignment piece in my inventory.

I did.....but it sold to a great customer of mine (who turns out was my neighbor too...lol)    So I decided I needed to replace the sold one so I would just construct a new one.    

Off to Lowe's Home Improvement to pick up some wood and get started.    The client wanted it in a wood finish, which I love because it can be rustic or elegant at the same time and go with different themed occasions.

My lil idea sketch

I picked up the wood and some things for other projects on my to do list.

My cut pieces of wood ( I try to have them cut the wood whenever possible)

Here is my finished project, haven't decided on the stain finish yet.

-MJ

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Since closing the shop 3 months ago, the boxes have been packed away and I haven't touched a thing.

I've been spending my days with my kids, cooking for my family and house hunting.   Well the first 2 of those was great, unfortunately house hunting isn't fun ( to my horror).  I have redecorated in my head and posted about 2 different houses, only to be disappointed.

So............for now I've decided to jump in and get back to blogging about my DIY projects in the home I live in now.  I'm always up for changing things around, even it's just a coffee table display.

Today I headed out to one of my fav spots Lowe's Home Improvement Store, I actually worked for them years ago and most of my house is filled with items from my old stomping ground.    I sometimes just go there a pick up random things and it inspires a full project.

Today I had the projects in my head already.............even did a sketch 5 minutes before I walked out the door with my husband and 2 littlest ones in tow (they are 2 and 6).

roth + allen finial accessory piece, Valspar paint, lumber that I had cut to my measurements 

My quick Sharpie sketch for a wall treatment I've been trying to do since last year. 

LET THE PROJECTS BEGIN!!!!

-MJ

SHE BAKES....SHE BAKES......

Okay for those of you who remember the Ricky Martin song (She Bangs..She Bangs) that's what was in my head at this moment. LOL

For the past few days I have been helping my daughter with the launch of her baking business.  She graduated last year and is planning to go to Culinary School in Philadelphia.   However I told her she should start putting her work out there now and get feedback.

So I started taking photos of her sweet treats and posting them to my Facebook page and my Instagram and she has really gotten some great feedback and order inquiries already.

We have a logo been designed by another talented your artist friend of hers ( I love supporting young talent)

LADIES & GENTS I INTRODUCE TO YOU..............   

  SKULLS N SWEETS

Inside of PB & J cupcake

Peanut Butter & Jelly cupcake

Spaghetti & Meatball cupcake

Ice Cream Cone cupcake

Cheeseburger cupcakes

Chocolate Dipped Pretzels w/ sprinkles

Union Jack flag cake for One Direction Bday

Yes she is definitely a foodie and that shows in her sweets.

-MJ

TODAY IS A SWEET DAY

Ive been away for awhile, but spending much needed quality time with my husband and my children. All along Ive posted so many photos to my personal facebook and my Lucky7Design Instagram.

However I realized we do a lot of cooking,eating and posing. LOL     Well today is Valentine's Day and my oldest Gabriella and I went to the market and grabbed a few goodies to make a sweet dinner for the kids.

Hubby is on duty tonight so he can't be home for dinner, I'm going to attempt to save him some but told him not to bet on it.  HaHa

We grabbed some fresh strawberries, icing, cake mix (which we didn't use..lol) and chocolate morsels.

Here is what I did with the chocolate morsels and strawberries

Here is Gabriella at work making special treat for her siblings.

  

She made white/pink/red mini cupcakes for them

I made a strawberry syrup for the pink pancakes

This was our dinner tonight

Pink Pancakes

Strawberry Syrup

Cool Whip

Sliced Strawberries

Cupcakes

Chocolate dipped Strawberries

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!!

- MJ