Does this make my butt look big?

You know why it's so hard to get in shape for bikini season? The whole season leading up to the sunshine days is working against you!

I mean, we finally recover from the holiday eat-a-thons...

Doesn't that look good?

So anyway, we finally recover from the holiday overeating and start the season of "prep-work." But the problem is, it's a little hard to work out when the weather is so crappy! It's like mother nature is working against you! It's like she's sabotaging everything because she doesn't like the competition!

Take today, for instance. I decide that I need to go for a run. Yet, it is pouring outside. Now, this isn't an out of the blue "I'm gonna start running" moment. No, I have been running quite frequently lately, thank you very much...

Running to the cleaners, the post office, late to work...

So why does mother nature insist on crying her eyes out the day I wanna flatten my bootie? Probably because she saw my not so six pack abs (they're down there somewhere!) I mean, I was really getting steamed.

But, I went anyway. In the rain. 3.5 miles. Mostly uphill. And it was cold. And my nose was running all down my face. And my stupid i-thingie ran out of juice. And this car hit a puddle that landed all over me. And some teenage boys drove by and catcalled at me. And I got muddy.

And it was the highlight of my day. Look out summer.

Mmmm...

Mad props to the ladies who put up this blog - in a "I kinda hate you for sabatoging my diet, but your cupcakes are so irresistable" way.

PS...

OHMIGOD! I just got my first comment from somebody that has not had a hand in changing my diapers!

Come on, you know YOU remember how cool that felt... Ahh, blog-stardom... here I come!

Hmm, maybe I should do a giveaway now!

Cheers!

Sal's Boutique does me good!

Went to Salvation Army the other day and found this little gem...

20 Bucks. It is a "New Home" machine. Using the serial number, I have it dated to 1926. Check out the plug in the top picture... I wouldn't plug this baby in for anything in the whole world.

No, instead I shall polish it up and make it a shelf decoration- err, conversation piece. And, after hefting this thing around, I can see why the Featherweight line took over, it weighs a TON!

Cheers!

PS The boy is ok for now, we have a follow up on Friday. We will know more then. Thank you for the emails and voicemails with good wishes. XOXO!!

75 and Sunny in SoCal...

Which reminds me that bikini season is on the way. Ugh.

Anyone else up for moving to the snow?

Cheers! And here's to a happy dieting season.

I've gone shabby, and I love it!

Well, well, well. Thanks for coming back to me, my little chic-a-dees. We've made a few changes around here. But more on that later. I have a new passion in my life - shabby chic!

It all started with an inooccent enough link that my auntie sent me regarding a "barn sale" in my little town of Temecula, California. She urged me to go, saying that "they never have anything like that around here- ever!"

So I went to the sale. It was in Wine Country (which is more horse country then wine country), in a big barn with 3 very nice ladies running around. I arrived about 20 mintes after they opened shop for the day, so I pretty much had the place to myself to browse. They had some really cute stuff. A lot was out of my price range, but I loved the way all these pretty things made me feel.

I noticed the main focus of the sale was several white metal objects that had been well weathered. Many items made of wood also appeared to have stood out in the elements for a while. And the more beat up, water damaged and crooked things were, the more charming they looked!

And you know what I learned?

If you leave anything out in the rain long enough, you will get a pretty good return!

First, a candle...

(before)

And then after leaving it out in the rain for a week...

(after)

Cute, huh?

And then I tried the milk carton...

(before)

And now...

(after)

Moo!

I also looked at things that are always outside...

(before)

And learned that they, too, have hidden potential!

(after)

Isn't Mother Nature awesome?

But seriously, I really love all this stuff! I love getting my hands on something old and sprucing it up, adding some sparkle and calling it 'chic.

I'll leave you with this tonite, ladies... This is the China set that the boy's grandfather gave to us last year. He said it was old stuff he wasn't going to use any more. I loved it when we got it home, and now? I'm smitten!

Cheers, folks! And happy 'chicing!