Embarrassment of Riches

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend and Mother's Day. My little ones were so sweet and tried to be good and helpful all day. Plus, there was the loot . . .<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpsbA04_0rKDYJBy2ayITYgAZXo2EfnFTDQ3IVbSFsz6PwoxdsGzfg8QhfG5P65TzUSRcNVwH2InHJpDXl2vm7sBkYMsqpyCkRl8_ASLhG38uFEW5pdgA1oeHpBw6wAJWgfjBwl13M6vU/s1600/IMG_0616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpsbA04_0rKDYJBy2ayITYgAZXo2EfnFTDQ3IVbSFsz6PwoxdsGzfg8QhfG5P65TzUSRcNVwH2InHJpDXl2vm7sBkYMsqpyCkRl8_ASLhG38uFEW5pdgA1oeHpBw6wAJWgfjBwl13M6vU/s400/IMG_0616.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">My husband knows me all too well. He surprised me with this book. It's very cool, I just wish there were fewer designers featured but more photos from the individual homes. Too much of a tease. But I still love it! More importantly, I got lots of expressions of love . . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTLVr-cj6khbMOiAX39tvB97r9Imq-ioLfv_1Zt1VDXQqlVK-asQudQFwGCAJp-HIDluJvt878fiAxP6abGyJ4VzXFss4ADWymoOGMz17dePOhSRAaM3hMVszEXSjfpevKFoj5EUT_oIu/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTLVr-cj6khbMOiAX39tvB97r9Imq-ioLfv_1Zt1VDXQqlVK-asQudQFwGCAJp-HIDluJvt878fiAxP6abGyJ4VzXFss4ADWymoOGMz17dePOhSRAaM3hMVszEXSjfpevKFoj5EUT_oIu/s400/IMG_0617.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">and . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94lLH64Fp-bs-9DvjLFmMpBhibXakToOC1J50v5VT3x52TA_StOtBrtpdtERJMBJdi0c1bfKYqwqtN95iXo5eXd7OI5OcEYgEU8VbH_NwC9dYrcMGl0L_VfQbWSlcJ11lHuOZF2fUF84I/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94lLH64Fp-bs-9DvjLFmMpBhibXakToOC1J50v5VT3x52TA_StOtBrtpdtERJMBJdi0c1bfKYqwqtN95iXo5eXd7OI5OcEYgEU8VbH_NwC9dYrcMGl0L_VfQbWSlcJ11lHuOZF2fUF84I/s400/IMG_0618.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">a ticket to shop. What else could a mother ask for?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope your Monday is starting off well. Mine will be spent at the pediatrician's office where my little one will undoubtedly be diagnosed with yet another ear infection. I fear another set of tubes is in our future. Boo. </div>

Embarrassment of Riches

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend and Mother's Day. My little ones were so sweet and tried to be good and helpful all day. Plus, th...

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Dreaming of Fall

<span style="font-size: large;">It is almost too hot to move here in Nashville. There's no relief in sight either. Sigh. Luckily, when I went to my mailbox today I received the new Anthropologie catalog chocked full of fabulous fall merchandise.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It was somehow good for my psyche to see clothing and accessories that I might be able to wear in - oh, I don't know - maybe three months, if I'm lucky. This is the South after all, fall is sometimes a very short season between a hot humid summer and a freezing winter. Which is sad because it's my favorite season. But, I digress - on to the good Anthropologie stuff. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The one that made me stop in my tracks . . .</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ag0JrsShs9_NC78u0sWnoxiTWKW_1VeoJvXE841i6sBUKx6Z-VdaKRzHQ8lezUZner06-uNKDWDKkG8-OTr4hw6Ln7ulQ7kmoY9ZVaPl2utGm-n7fI3j5Kt0r9g0HxE9DNUuHd9uDjo/s1600/18781047_050_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ag0JrsShs9_NC78u0sWnoxiTWKW_1VeoJvXE841i6sBUKx6Z-VdaKRzHQ8lezUZner06-uNKDWDKkG8-OTr4hw6Ln7ulQ7kmoY9ZVaPl2utGm-n7fI3j5Kt0r9g0HxE9DNUuHd9uDjo/s640/18781047_050_k.jpg" width="427" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=BAGS-ROOMY&id=18781047&catId=BAGS-BAGS&pushId=BAGS-BAGS&popId=SHOESBAGS&sortProperties=&navCount=70&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=050&colorName=PURPLE&isSubcategory=true&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=hybrid">Sliced Eggplant Bag</a>. Isn't it fabulous? I love a little purple in the fall. This bag is calling my name loudly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, was this . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqiwIA5eD6H_sdXCrgg1VE1KDMLvADEHPTwCAKhIv31FX_qy4j2A3Sc9pD-4EWRfTtm1geWH6s8Qa947bFwwEyhdivgaSNvszJYODJvGGuWh62SUhDx-jARTvmXLT9byHf5wBqYHS0kA/s1600/18948786_080_e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqiwIA5eD6H_sdXCrgg1VE1KDMLvADEHPTwCAKhIv31FX_qy4j2A3Sc9pD-4EWRfTtm1geWH6s8Qa947bFwwEyhdivgaSNvszJYODJvGGuWh62SUhDx-jARTvmXLT9byHf5wBqYHS0kA/s640/18948786_080_e.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I swooned over this <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=&id=18948786&catId=HOME-AUTUMN&pushId=HOME-AUTUMN&popId=HOME&sortProperties=&navCount=45&navAction=jump&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=080&colorName=ORANGE&isSubcategory=&isProduct=true&isBigImage=true&templateType=templateA">Terrace House Jacket</a>. It may look terrible on, but it's worth a shot. I need a fun jacket for fall. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And lastly (although there were several other loves), these . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeANkh1qis0OQQQA10YOxqRfXaFqDV17kPy6zvbG5tZ9M018QHsnNXvBCPh_UN-t9535rtNqfMTLq8Qt7pZTwjNEMOAVVLn8QJLLc-mI-04EgdBB1schmCMam23Tf2HQ0QF6LwFlHglEc/s1600/18613323_020_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeANkh1qis0OQQQA10YOxqRfXaFqDV17kPy6zvbG5tZ9M018QHsnNXvBCPh_UN-t9535rtNqfMTLq8Qt7pZTwjNEMOAVVLn8QJLLc-mI-04EgdBB1schmCMam23Tf2HQ0QF6LwFlHglEc/s640/18613323_020_k.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=&id=18613323&catId=SHOES-BOOTS&pushId=SHOES-BOOTS&popId=SHOESBAGS&sortProperties=&navCount=90&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=020&colorName=BROWN&isSubcategory=&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=">Upwards Boots</a> made my heart go pitter patter. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A girl can dream about fall, can't she?</span></div>

Dreaming of Fall

It is almost too hot to move here in Nashville. There's no relief in sight either. Sigh. Luckily, when I went to my mailbox today I rece...

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The Look for Less

<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, my blogging has really been lagging lately. I apologize again. Summer is just getting all hectic on me, my cable/internet connection has been out, and I'm trying to finish a book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (you must read it if you have not. I'm almost done and I can't wait to read the next one!). Anyway, I digress. I've hit the mall a couple of times in the past week while my kiddos have been in their respective camps and found some pretty good deals that I thought I would share with you.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">First up, the bohemian look. Have you seen the cute tunic/caftan type tops at J. Crew with all the ethnic details?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PzYrZRtZinVimNfa0RilEiFQgsA5lcmf_QNUNpaAUT5CKko6y1tMwyGjNYEeM-iMb8MdrBmoCenc26kxKIsLG-q01zCxVMZisrZhZQM1zQrPLP6zoeOqTempX_vodxm7mF7Be98Gjsw/s1600/erez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PzYrZRtZinVimNfa0RilEiFQgsA5lcmf_QNUNpaAUT5CKko6y1tMwyGjNYEeM-iMb8MdrBmoCenc26kxKIsLG-q01zCxVMZisrZhZQM1zQrPLP6zoeOqTempX_vodxm7mF7Be98Gjsw/s400/erez.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.jcrew.com/media/images/common/spacer_v2_m56577569830537995.gif" width="10" /> <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/shirtstops/camisblouses/PRDOVR%7E26153/26153.jsp"> Flower mosaic embroidered tunic from J. Crew - $78</a><!-- product detail div for ajax --> <input name="bmForm" type="hidden" value="add_to_cart" /> <input name="bmFormID" type="hidden" value="1276204058992" /> <input name="bmUID" type="hidden" value="1276204058992" /> <input name="bmIsForm" type="hidden" value="true" /> <input name="bmPrevTemplate" type="hidden" value="/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/shirtstops/camisblouses/PRDOVR~26153/26153.jsp" /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, I found <a href="http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=18948a0&Ntt=jasmine&hdnOnGo=true&Ne=4+877+878+5+961+6+29+3+598+11+15+12+506+10+23+585+596+1031+8+18+904+903+840+969+949+833&submit%20search.y=0&SearchString=jasmine&submit%20search.x=0&N=4294959029&Nao=0&SO=0&PSO=0&CmCatId=searchresults">this </a>similar style the other day at JC Penney - yes, you read that right - for $20 (I looked on the website and now it's $17.99)! I thought it was a pretty color and a pretty good deal so I snagged it. Now, obviously it's not exactly the same, but for an almost $60 savings and a similar look, I thought it wasn't bad. It also has an ombre effect (gradually getting darker at the bottom) which is a nice detail. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb4gW3tWyzMjEulPkEjZuIsu2ovxpr4YfH8G7vn0dPaWhEz0WHuwInqpQJAEYmooAkqKh88syEfehdfPPj8pdC_rgMfuVKJBP0L97f6sMXZKfRwHAvzHARFCgZU9FURTt4eQU0GHJLXc/s1600/IMG_5056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb4gW3tWyzMjEulPkEjZuIsu2ovxpr4YfH8G7vn0dPaWhEz0WHuwInqpQJAEYmooAkqKh88syEfehdfPPj8pdC_rgMfuVKJBP0L97f6sMXZKfRwHAvzHARFCgZU9FURTt4eQU0GHJLXc/s320/IMG_5056.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Please excuse the photo. JCP's photos wouldn't load so I made my son take this picture. He's 5 and didn't really understand what I was doing or why I interrupted his Wii game.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next up, a sort of Anthropologie-esque look combining two of their popular themes right now - flowers and stripes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lhzaB2zhKxc5hxGp_scAx0BlDHOBkxy6ErvbturHoQopyiLYhkhzEBljqxEbDRWxSuiz4wDHirwzu0HQAP6cLAeBsTbgPIYmpjk-tp8A08dS4opNnP_uLnlU7yPbPSCrfVoXT73Ycjo/s1600/18161257_038_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lhzaB2zhKxc5hxGp_scAx0BlDHOBkxy6ErvbturHoQopyiLYhkhzEBljqxEbDRWxSuiz4wDHirwzu0HQAP6cLAeBsTbgPIYmpjk-tp8A08dS4opNnP_uLnlU7yPbPSCrfVoXT73Ycjo/s320/18161257_038_b.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1628425492" id="deslink18161257" title="Painted Hillside Tank - Knits & Tees">Painted Hillside Tank</a><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES-PRINTED&id=18161257&catId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES&pushId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES&popId=CLOTHES&sortProperties=&navCount=95&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=038&colorName=GREEN%20MOTIF&isSubcategory=true&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType="> - Anthropologie - $78</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQx2p73p7E4Jqt-Lt-AjEPV1GW_kXLiQrHoMavMPu9enB7cQGF3O62-sgY4sQjrtpPRHOsJqSmlHvWfIac_9iQnRQZ-gkMjFscAE7reQRFwdYRmwKOZd9yDh-uJJFimlt87qsQ6Qfbi4/s1600/18380543_041_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQx2p73p7E4Jqt-Lt-AjEPV1GW_kXLiQrHoMavMPu9enB7cQGF3O62-sgY4sQjrtpPRHOsJqSmlHvWfIac_9iQnRQZ-gkMjFscAE7reQRFwdYRmwKOZd9yDh-uJJFimlt87qsQ6Qfbi4/s320/18380543_041_b.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES-SOLID&id=18380543&catId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES&pushId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES&popId=CLOTHES&sortProperties=&navCount=95&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=041&colorName=NAVY&isSubcategory=true&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=">Claude's Retreat Tank - Anthropologie - $78</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nhtnsw678dA_L7vX0so9Vo6aIJ2ss-VNrKZNFtM0YTrVfcY9gCDN30qlZlw8kSax2sV_yU0_snDBmkZ66Ol4zYunjiHHml6CUMU4a277T32_qRM6r0Q5NmiLdkDrpFOOUD1FmEkMtB8/s1600/053244_006_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nhtnsw678dA_L7vX0so9Vo6aIJ2ss-VNrKZNFtM0YTrVfcY9gCDN30qlZlw8kSax2sV_yU0_snDBmkZ66Ol4zYunjiHHml6CUMU4a277T32_qRM6r0Q5NmiLdkDrpFOOUD1FmEkMtB8/s320/053244_006_b.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1628425489" id="deslink053244" title="Nell Tank - Knits & Tees">Nell Tank</a><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES-STRIPE&id=053244&catId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES&pushId=CLOTHES-KNITSTEES&popId=CLOTHES&sortProperties=&navCount=95&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=006&colorName=LIGHT%20GREY&isSubcategory=true&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType="> - Anthropologie - $48</a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here's the <a href="http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=185d4a3&Ntt=So+sik&hdnOnGo=true&Ne=4+877+878+5+961+6+29+3+598+11+15+12+506+10+23+585+596+1031+8+18+904+903+840+969+949+833&submit%20search.y=0&SearchString=So+sik&submit%20search.x=0&N=4294959029&Nao=0&SO=0&PSO=0&CmCatId=searchresults">tank</a> I found again at JCP (I know, I usually don't shop there, but I gave it a shot) in the Juniors' department for $14.99. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24mLS6K8tVT0meyAdDWj8XgO_6gm3uVt6ygnqNJPCZmIcBQUjKD2WLGPATnPNyRWa8q3JbUm5V_NamBjHYtOx_77yVLesVgzmHQ0bw4Q6V0kmH5lzgWtlutotaLqen-QEvf3J2FFy_BQ/s1600/IMG_5059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24mLS6K8tVT0meyAdDWj8XgO_6gm3uVt6ygnqNJPCZmIcBQUjKD2WLGPATnPNyRWa8q3JbUm5V_NamBjHYtOx_77yVLesVgzmHQ0bw4Q6V0kmH5lzgWtlutotaLqen-QEvf3J2FFy_BQ/s400/IMG_5059.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, I found some <a href="http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=25323&N=1200009&pCategoryId=3359&categoryId=208&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_208&loc=TN&gridSize=sm&showAll=true&defaultColor=Super%20Bleached%20Wash&defaultSizeType=Regular">cropped white jeans</a> (seen in photos above) at Ann Taylor Loft for 50% off today. They were originally $54.50, so I got them for $27.25 (plus tax, of course). A similar pair at J. Crew (seen below) cost $98.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLhfl1GGBM0-mHjGF8ID0hm_yGQqMiJgsd1u3snbRFZvfVMijf30uVJf7H6h2-nXmG42oRWOBzsSuI7DElJzD4dPjNpa8bjAD2FGlHrKWCOHZ5D1oKtVrir61Pcwt9vZtk15LBGb2jDk/s1600/erez-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLhfl1GGBM0-mHjGF8ID0hm_yGQqMiJgsd1u3snbRFZvfVMijf30uVJf7H6h2-nXmG42oRWOBzsSuI7DElJzD4dPjNpa8bjAD2FGlHrKWCOHZ5D1oKtVrir61Pcwt9vZtk15LBGb2jDk/s320/erez-2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/denim/matchstick/PRDOVR%7E22962/22962.jsp">Cropped Matchstick Jean - J. Crew - $98</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not bad, huh? Happy summer sale shopping!</span></div>

The Look for Less

Okay, my blogging has really been lagging lately. I apologize again. Summer is just getting all hectic on me, my cable/internet connection h...

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Happy Day

<span style="font-size: large;">With the historic flood that hit Nashville over the weekend, I never thought today would be a happy day, but I was wrong. For a couple of hours this morning, I got the opportunity to help someone in need. Someone I didn't even know. I couldn't do much in the short time I had - just helped haul out some soaked carpet. But it truly puts things in perspective. People's entire lives were sitting out on the curb. Makes you count your blessings.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Then when I got home, some mail arrived that made me smile . . .</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wCzAtsfo4pMEP9gyepgSgL86CLonc6SP2-0YdhnOUOpGAmkgewfyNly8Io7hJJjpNcz_yPtG9AW2FPio0ljwO8GeQKKsM_FZWnNG6yRILL8xnqwqkEY7jIdEHDspxc_Oq0sXVcSSXi0/s1600/IMG_4970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wCzAtsfo4pMEP9gyepgSgL86CLonc6SP2-0YdhnOUOpGAmkgewfyNly8Io7hJJjpNcz_yPtG9AW2FPio0ljwO8GeQKKsM_FZWnNG6yRILL8xnqwqkEY7jIdEHDspxc_Oq0sXVcSSXi0/s400/IMG_4970.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K4MkUT_iw6eRbeDNiKBQAxFJ22e6awbt77ba6l2bOjBqzppVlu3jgyCcxVcJfmGO0iIpaxFFiLjC5iitmBLVp65Muky_9Wk3jtusYy6tYz2aUbPAVZ_hf4INZ-fXT8muQY2qHeUWNf0/s1600/IMG_4971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K4MkUT_iw6eRbeDNiKBQAxFJ22e6awbt77ba6l2bOjBqzppVlu3jgyCcxVcJfmGO0iIpaxFFiLjC5iitmBLVp65Muky_9Wk3jtusYy6tYz2aUbPAVZ_hf4INZ-fXT8muQY2qHeUWNf0/s400/IMG_4971.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This sweet little birthday card - complete with a candle necklace - from <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp">Anthropologie</a> offering me 15% off any purchase in May (my birthday's at the end of the month). Isn't it cute?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And this skirt that I ordered from <a href="http://www.sevierskirts.com/Main.aspx">Sevier Skirts</a> arrived too . . . </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_1v6s5lS4UgewVTPYFFiUB9IXD_2Zo167GOwkmgsT8s4pSdUMw9o1wc2bG_AkIXuJ2_9FvbE-kxnjG_MPYHCPLxclR2pZHEZ94qOUPTc0ZfJxBoplL-grguKsTL2z0GP67OT0LinBGw/s1600/IMG_4978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_1v6s5lS4UgewVTPYFFiUB9IXD_2Zo167GOwkmgsT8s4pSdUMw9o1wc2bG_AkIXuJ2_9FvbE-kxnjG_MPYHCPLxclR2pZHEZ94qOUPTc0ZfJxBoplL-grguKsTL2z0GP67OT0LinBGw/s400/IMG_4978.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">just in time for me to wear to my son's pre-school Mother's Day Tea tomorrow!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, out of the blue, my husband came home with these . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfClEOYOqjVuhUgG0b_-S-2AWm6Keelq0hPSOD1pqwW_f89uksWUbq1FsHxSw0U0d1hYRe5V5g8VVhVd-nQztEE2h6burlECZP4ShaU4xqZAXrnvne_y72-LT4nm18BDRVvEDbEr_yqDI/s1600/IMG_4972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfClEOYOqjVuhUgG0b_-S-2AWm6Keelq0hPSOD1pqwW_f89uksWUbq1FsHxSw0U0d1hYRe5V5g8VVhVd-nQztEE2h6burlECZP4ShaU4xqZAXrnvne_y72-LT4nm18BDRVvEDbEr_yqDI/s400/IMG_4972.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">just because he knows I love peonies and that they're blooming now. They are beautiful and smell wonderful. Thanks, honey!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am very lucky indeed. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sidenote: If you are interested in spiffing up your (or your child's) wardrobe this spring and helping out Nashville at the same time, check out <a href="http://kaycehughes.blogspot.com/">Kayce Hughes blog/store</a>. She's donating 50% of all sales made over the next week to the American Red Cross for flood relief efforts in Nashville. </i></span></div>

Happy Day

With the historic flood that hit Nashville over the weekend, I never thought today would be a happy day, but I was wrong. For a couple of ho...

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