Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Through The Years With My Dad

Words have just been too hard for me but I wanted to post something new on my Blog. I just have to get those shoes out of sight! Here are some pictures through the years. My brother who is wonderful with words, has several touching tributes to my Dad on his blog. Go to http://fbcflippin.blogspot.com/.

New Jersey

Seattle, Washington

Cuba

Hawaii

Wedding Reception in Plano

Even though we look like an add for a TV sitcom, I love this picture taken of our family at a reunion a few years back.

Dad's 86th Birthday - June 2, 2008

"Think About New Shoes"

I love new shoes! Most of the women I know do too. I firmly believe this is embedded deep in our chromosomes and somewhere there is a tiny genetic marker in the shape of a shoe.

The first shoes I remember being drawn to were on my cousin Melanie's feet. She had on the cutest, brightest little red Keds. I talked her into letting me try them on. Unfortunately I had to give them back after Melanie ran into grandma's house crying "My shoes are running across the street." Nabbed!

When I was about 7 I saw the movie "The Creature From The Black Lagoon".

Needless to say, that night I had a horrible nightmare. My mother trying to divert my attention away from the dream said "Think happy thoughts. Think about new shoes." Boy did it ever work and from that point on there was no turning back.

I have been through a lot of shoes in my lifetime. Remember the black patent T-straps or Mary Janes bought for special occasions and holidays? In elementary school it was black and white saddle shoes. Weejuns (Bass Loafers) were a must in Jr. and Sr High. They looked great with knee socks and skirts. (We couldn't wear pants to school back then.) In Hawaii we took our old weejuns and cut pieces out of them with a razor blade to make them into sandals. I've never heard of anyone else doing this. They were too cool.

In college during my hippie days, I had a pair of navy blue suede ankle high desert boots. I painted a white star on the toe of each boot. I absolutely adored them. A boy in my English class noticed them. He later told me he was looking around the room and saw these blue boots with stars and just had to look up to see who was wearing them. He painted a white star on the gas tank of his Harley for me. Everybody now ..... Awwwwwwwwwwww!

I have been through all the fads and I'm proud to say I've even worn platforms and "too high" heels and not fallen off of them. I'm not very graceful so that was quite a "feet" for me. Ha!

I have since graduated to comfort. Nothing makes me more miserable or ornory than having my feet hurt. Thank goodness the shoe makers have realized how important comfort is to us. There are so many brands and styles to choose from and I can still indulge my shoe addiction.

Last year I got these Me Toos. The insoles are like marshmallows and the leather is soft and flexible like a moccasin. They are so comfortable.

I reverted back to my childhood with these pink plaid sneakers. Melanie would be so jealous and don't tell Kelly I bought them at Target!

My most recent buy from "Trinity Expressions" adds a little bling to my wardrobe. I just love these flip flops! See they even sparkle!!

The old saying still goes "What goes around, comes around". Mary Janes, Platforms, even Top Siders are back. Are dessert boots back yet? A pair in blue please.

What was inborn and lovingly instilled by my mother still works for me today. Happy thoughts and new shoes can chase away any old nightmare and we all know for sure.....

Trinity Expressions

Becky and Christy

My friends Becky and Christy have a business called "Trinity Expressions". They sell fabulous accessories including jewelry, buttery soft purses and rhinestone adorned flip flops and belts.

I visited them at a huge craft fair this weekend held at a high school in Richardson, Texas. This was the largest one I've ever been to with over 150 booths. I had to get myself out of there pretty fast with so many tempting things to buy! Their space was a little small but you can get an idea of some of the cute things they have from my photos below.

I just love the tan and brown purse in the back. In front folded on the table, are jean jackets with a cross on the back that are really cute and comfy. They have just added the jackets and t-shirts and haven't had a chance to put them on the website, but will be very soon.

I bought this cute little lightweight backpack. I am always looking for something lightweight to carry my "necessities" in for outdoor outings like garage sales and you guessed it craft fairs.

I tried on the flip flops you see in the right bottom corner. I have to tell you they are not on the table anymore, they came home with me. They are so comfortable and cute.

Becky and Christy are two of the nicest and fun people I know and are really putting their "hearts and souls" into this. I hope you will take a look at the items on their website. My pictures do not do them justice. Here is the link.

No More Garage Sales!

This weekend I had my "last garage sale". I have been trying to get to this for over a year and I must say the weather was perfect for it. Thursday I worked my tail off getting everything out of boxes and set up. The preparation is the worst part. I started the sale Friday morning and had a somewhat steady stream of customers until about noon. I closed up for the day about 2 pm. My husband Tom promised not to stand by the ab exerciser below.

In fact the lady who bought it asked me who used it? Ha! I'm sure she didn't think it did me any good either. I told her my son used it, which is true kind of. She asked me why he didn't want it anymore and I told her he didn't need it because he was involved in a lot of sports now. By the way Jackson had his first swim meet yesterday and won first place in the 100 meter free-style against 5 other schools!

If you need exercise equipment it's probably best to buy it at a garage sale. Most of the time it hasn't been used very much. The exercise bike was my Dad's. He did use it but it was too hard for him to get on and off of.

I opened again Saturday morning and had just a trickling of people come by so I ended up closing about noon. It was Texas - OU weekend in Dallas, plus the State Fair is going on. How about that Texas win!

My cat Rosie has always loved garage sales! Despite being 18 years old and disguised as an overgrown rat, she still attended. I had a lot left over and took a load to Goodwill yesterday afternoon, the rest is being picked up by the animal adoption center on Wednesday. I have a few collectibles that I just can't give away so I am going to put them on Ebay. I am now retiring from having sales and instead will go to them. You never know what little treasure you might find.

My friend Carol and I have had many garage sales together, some successful and some not. Carol loves to tell the story of how she went home with everything she had left in one little shoebox. (Now that's a successful garage sale!) This one I did on my own and it was just not the same.

Doing one by yourself is just not as fun. I missed you girlfriend!

TA DA

I'm pretty much finished for now with my construction. What do you think? Now it's on to organizing my garage sale for next weekend, cleaning house, doing laundry and back to weeding my flower beds. I have put off working in the yard for so long that the grass and fire ants have taken over my yard. I have had to stop frequently because the ants are everywhere!! I hate those critters.

On another note Jackson started his first job at "Yogurt Fever" this weekend. I am not sure how he is going to fit it into his schedule. He is a busy boy this year with school, tennis team and swim team. He will be working weekends and the shop is within walking distance from our house. Of course the walking will probably never happen! They just opened and seem to be doing alot of business. Here is a picture taken of him recently at the homecoming game.

Speaking of games, Cowboys are playing again today. I'd better get back to the yard and get ready for hopefully touchdown time!!

I am not tired of this picture yet.

Go Cowboys!

Working on my blog

I have been trying to get my blog fluffed up a bit. Time and lack of the knowledge to do it is making my progress slow. I will not be blogging until I figure this out, I am very stubborn! Also I am planning on having a garage sale next weekend and need to get ready for that. I'll be posting hopefully soon.