Lucy's Lounge at Tutti Chic

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Okay... Pick your poison! What chocolate goodies are your favorite for Halloween?? MINE??? Peanut M&M's, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups,  Butterfingers  &  Junior Mints!!  Of course I buy them to give out & by the time Halloween arrives there is barely a bag left,  so it's back out to the store to stock up AGAIN!  Then it's double running time on the treadmill for the next3 days!  SO worth all those sweet calories though!~Enjoy your favorite treats & have a wonderful halloween!!!

  YUM!

Love these little guys!

 

Looks Just Like Me By Halloween Night! :)

   

The Best Laid Plans.....

Vintage Finds!

MacKenzie Treasures!

Big plans this weekend for lots of dining out, the movies, connecting with my brother visiitng from Va Beach, finishing projects & finally on Sunday spending some down time with my husband at our beach house doing yard work & shopping for treasures! I find the best treasures down in Rhode Island at 3 or 4 of my favorite antique & consingment stores! I don't get down there as much as I do in the summer, so today was the day for ME!!  Well, as we all know, things don't always go as planned!  My daughter was called in to work a double shift on Sunday & my grandaughter gabby had a play off game she had to cheer at. We are a HUGE football town here in North Attleboro & it starts at the pop warner level, so this was really important to her. With noone else around, & not wanting her  to be alone at an away game , Grandma tutti had to give up her day with grandpa & shlep kids to the football game & back.  Grandpa stayed home to finish sheet rocking the attic (big project going on here & we are under the gun). I was a little down about it but excited for my grandaughter & I LOVE all of her friends so it's always a treat to be able to be a part of what they are doing. Anyway, We were about an hour 1/2 early so I got to drop her off for a practice session before the game & went looking for a dunkin donuts to grab a coffee.  About a mile down the road I spotted not ONE but TWO adorable little antique shops that just screamed "STOP HERE!" to me!!! I have many customers who I actually shop for now so I always have to be on the lookout for pretty vintage things! Much to my delight I picked up some really pretty finds to stock the shelves in my boutique with! I was also able to pick up some GORGEOUS Mackenzie-Childs pieces to add to my ever growing collection!! I can't believe what they were selling them for so I grabbed all I could! IMAGINE~Finding them at a consignment store!!! Off I went with my stash & on the way back I stopped at a Mega Marshalls store & stocked up on pretty candles,  frames,  potpourri, & a bunch of workout pants(they are so much cheaper at marshalls & T.J. Maxx!!) I made it back to the game with 10 minutes to spare & was happy as a clam!!! I got to spend time with my girl at the football game (which they lost :(  & got to shop & have some needed ME time too!!! It just goes to show that sometimes even the best laid plans go astray but in the end everything turns out okay if you are open to the possibility of making the best of things!!! The weekend was wonderful (even with the rain yesterday!) I hope yours was as well!!xoxo

My Girl Gabby

The Comets B Team

It's a Little Strange......

I swear New England is confused! Not that I'm complaining about the warmer October weather we are experiencing this year but....I picked this wonderful bouquet from my rose bushes just last night (YES! They are still blooming profusely!) that reminds me so much of the summer months that I adore. I didn't think much of it until I came across these FABULOUS trees all decked out in Fall splender with their magnificent golds, oranges & reds on my way to do some shopping. I just had to stop & take a picture & post both my bouquet & the luscious trees on my blog.  The roses have usually died back by now do to the colder nights but even without clipping them back(yes I'm getting lazy about yard work now) they are mass procucing blooms! We are having the best of both worlds this Fall & I just LOVE it! Lots to do this weekend with searching for vintage treasures, some yard work at the beach house & painting two delicious victorian finds I picked up today! I will post pictures soon of my new projects!! Have a wonderful weekend & hope your weather is as wonderful as ours here in New England! 

A special note to our friends in Ca who are still experiencing the WORST of conditions there-We are all thinking of you & hoping that life returns to normal soon!xoxo

Something to think about on a Monday....

My dear friend Jen sent me this yesterday & it was timed so perfectly. It was one of those days that I needed a kick in the butt! You''ve probably read it before as I have, but it's good to read over every so often If you're like me, & sometimes in my busy, crazy days forget for a second what's really important. Enjoy your Monday!! xo  p.s.Isn't the look in this wonderful picture one of pure contentment?

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer). I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's" And more "I'm sorry's." But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... Live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!! Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you have a blessed day.

Whimsy At It's Best.....

Decorating magazines are my FAVORITE thing to wait for in the mail but.....Anticipating & watching for the latest Mackenzie-Childs catalogue runs a close second for sure! The cover on the catalogue is alwasy such a treat for the eyes and just entices you to turn the pages! Even though I love to decorate romantically with French & Italian touches  here & there,  whether it be a hand painted guest towel simply marked "BAIN" or a beautiful lace tablecloth straight from Italy, I must have my WHIMSY!  Touches here & there of fun pieces are weaved throughtout my home. Mackenzie-Childs fabulous hand painted pieces from pottery to furniture to garden accents does it for me! I love the way they incorporate their signature black & white checks with hand painted flowers &  make their pieces both beautiful, functional & FUN! When I am in Florida a trip to the East Coast is a must to visit one of their stores located on the famous & fancy  "Worth Ave." It's a truly FABULOUS store where you could spend a good two hours browsing & buying! Their items aren't cheap but they are so worth collecting piece by piece! I have been lucky enough to have recieved many as gifts, like the beautiful black & white fondue set I recieved from my dear friend Tara at Bella Pink Cafe for my 50th birthday last year.  To add to my favorite black & white check collection was a fabulous covered butter /cheese dish I recieved for that same birthday from my wonderful friend Christine (my ethel) Pay a visit to their website at Mackenzie-Childs & take a look at all the Fabulous things for sale! They have such fun things for the holiday's such as ornaments, christmas stockings & of course their wonderful hand painted dishes & furniture & accessories. Take a trip down WHIMSY LANE with the pretty pieces from Mackenzie-Childs!

A few of my Mackenzie pieces from enamelware to lamps!

   

 

I'm a Topiary Nut!

I Love Topiaries!!! I love them in all shapes & sizes & love to make them around the holidays & love to give them as gifts. They just ooze an english kind of charm & make an ordinary spot come to life. They are especially lovely around the Holidays when you can jazz them up with pretty pots & pretty french ribbon.  Some people like the silk kind but I like the real deal. They are sometimes hard to keep indoors thanks to the the pest the "spider mite" but if you keep them misted & relatively moist they can last for years! I have some that are over 4 years old & I bring them out every summer to enjoy the humidity & back indoors right about this time of the year to enjoy them inside. Here are just a few of my favorite....

I even painted a faux topiary at the end of my kitchen Island. I'll post a picture in another post down the line.  I am changing things around in the kitchen & it looks like a bomb went off! LOL! When my friend Peggy pays a visit we usually do lots of moving stuff around & changing things here & there. She is a doll to help me all the time & she is SO good at it!  She made me the most gorgeous window treatment for my kitchen window out of  silk & toile & we put it up & she fussed with it until it was right. Then we were up in my bedroom for a total bedroom re-do!! It's wonderful & I'll be posting pictures soon of both! Of course Lucy (ME!) forgot she had groceries out in the car so I am scrambling to save the frozen stuff!! :(

I've Been Tagged!

I have been tagged by my friend Janet of  Janets Creative Pillows  This means I have to list 7 things people don't know about me. Here goes....

I am 50 years old & will be 51 in January. I never thought I'd turn 30, never mind 50! Except for a few aches & pains I still feel 25 . I love to eat & have to work out like a mad dog to stay fit at this age!

I am the oldest of 5. My dad was a dentist & my mom a stay at home mother. We lived in a beautiful home with lots of land & my sister & I had horses. My sister owns two & still rides & I decorate & garden. I promised myself that someday I would again own a horse & ride because I loved it so much.

I was married, owned a home, had a child & widowed all by the age of 21. I remarried , had two more children & moved on with my life & never forgot what has made me strong. We went through more heartache when my handsome 30 year old brother-in-law died suddenly & left my beautiful sister with two little ones.  We both got thru our tragedies thanks to a wonderful, supportive, loving family.

I won a "BUMP" contest in the 70's  I am cringing right now!

I was a grandmother at 37 & felt Like I belonged in a country music star's biography! It was SO young to be a grandmother, but I adore my two grandchildren & all has turned out fine.

My music tastes run from the rolling stones (best concert I've ever been to) to rascal flats,  kenny chesney,  pavarotti (rest his soul), frank sinatra, dean martin, the eagles,  & U2. I HATE Rap & Hip Hop & want to go insane when my 13 year old grandaughter wants to listen to it in the car!

My favorite color to wear is BLACK.  When you open my closet there are the infamous little black dresses, black sweaters etc. . My favorite things to wear are jeans , a tee shirt & sneakers or uggs (they are so cozy)

I'll have to think hard of 7 people to tag . Thanks sweet janet for tagging me. It was fun! Have a wonderful weekend & enjoy this beautiful bouquet I picked from my hydrangea tree. I waited until they were just the right shade of cream & pink & partially dried! 

 

Here Comes The Bride!

We went to a lovely wedding over the weekend & had such a nice time! The wedding couple are very dear  to us, as the bride is one of my daughters best freinds.  Elizabeth was in the wedding party & the girls all looked gorgeous especially the beautiful bride! The groom is a marine & his marine friends were present at the church & reception. I wanted to go up & hug & thank everyone of them for their service to our country but, they looked so serious I chickend out! I just gave them a big smile & said hello as I passed by them.  Here are some snaps of the day~            

BEAUTIFUL BRIDE & HANDSOME GROOM

                             PRETTY BRIDESMAIDS

                                                                                                                          MY GIRLS                                                                        

                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                               

New Vintage Finds Just Listed In Our Boutique

I'M SO HAPPY!

I am SO HAPPY with the design of my new BLOG & all the credit goes to Sara at Sadie Olive Check out her wonderful boutque as well! She is so sweet, professional & so talented! (she's gorgeous too!) She has totally captured the look & feel that I wanted. Thank You SARA! Thanks also to "the Blog Diva" Tara at Bella Pink Cafe  She has been after me for months to switch to typepad & to have a blog that is unique & chic! She hooked me up with Sara & now I'm a happy girl!

We are off to a wedding this Saturday & the day promises to be perfect for the sweet bride & her groom. She is my daughter Elizabeth's best friend & will no doubt look  GORGEOUS on her wedding day! I will post pictures of the day. Wishing Sue & Lucas all the health, happiness & love there is!

I don't have a wedding picture of Sue & Lucas yet but here's a sweet picture you will all love!