Clean, Purge, Clean, Purge

January is definitely the month for purging, is it not. I help a friend install Christmas decorations at some very large homes each season. After Christmas, we return to take it all down. Nothing makes me want to get rid of "stuff" more than seeing these big houses crammed with who knows what. I always come home from each one with the thought that I am clearing out everything in my house I don't use. Happens every January. Each year I think that I've done a great job and then January rolls around again and I still have LOADS to take to Goodwill. Seriously. It's embarrassing. This year not only did I again clean out closets, drawers and garages, but I also got rid of furniture.  Probably not the best idea of mine since I have college kids but I did it anyway.  My plan is to take another look at everything in a month and see what else needs to go.  I am on a roll!
In the midst of all the purging, I have decided that I want to redo our bedroom. I have a very traditional home and love a jewel toned style of living. However, I'm ready to mix it up, with Pinterest being the main culprit. Seriously, I can pin all day long!  I think my style is not what has been the rage for the past couple of years.  I know "french country" style is everywhere now but it just is not for me. It looks great in other peoples' homes but just does not fit my style. The light colors and tones of grey just don't speak to me.  Unfortunately, I cannot seem to narrow down what I do want and the "speak to me" that I want is being strangely mute. The sleigh bed I have is staying as is the white matelasse coverlet.  I've bought one new nightstand and swing arm lights but everything else is at a standstill. I refuse to spend $2000 on bed linens that must be dry cleaned. I like to be able to throw things in the wash and be done with it. This narrows down many of the fabrics that I love but just are not practical. So ladies, HELP!!! Toss some ideas my way. Send some pictures and ideas. It took me ten years to complete my family room and I'd really like to see the bedroom done in far less time!

As many of you know, I live in Texas. As some of you write about the cold weather in other parts of the country, can I just say ya'll make me sick ha! This has been the mildest winter I can remember and we have had some mild ones the last few years. I have even put a reminder on my cell phone calendar that will go off on September 1st. DO NOT BUY ANY SWEATERS! I haven't  worn the lightest weight ones I have., never mind the actual winter ones. I think it is time to face the fact that we don't have an actual winter here and I need to put the money I spend on darling sweaters to actual clothes I will wear for 10 months out of the year. I really detest summer clothes. Really! But, I am going to break down and but some comfy, chic summer clothes and just get over the fact that I have to wear them. I know linen is the thing to wear but, oh my I hate the wrinkled look.   We have more days in the 80-100 degree range than ever and my wardrobe is screaming to ban wool.  So, send some clothing ideas this way too.  January and February are the months to reinvent one's home and self,  right?

Advice, ladies. Advice. That is what I'm looking for today!

Christmas Fun

Christmas is over for another year. We had a wonderful time with a few new things that hopefully will be traditions in future years. Instead of our usual dinner of Japanese and then obnoxious drive in search of Christmas lights I hit upon the perfect game plan that will be used from now on. We ate dinner at a wonderful little Itallian place where most of us enjoyed wine or a cocktail. We then stopped at Starbucks for coffee to go and I provided the generous addition of Baileys once back in the car. The lights have never looked so beautiful and the kids have never been so accommodating. I've decided that once our family increases with marriages in the distant future, we will procure a bus and driver and it will be a highlight each year.
I cooked a Christmas Eve brunch as another new experience. I detest the smell of breakfast so my family rarely has the treat of a breakfast at home. Planning for a noon meal fixed that and the champagne toast probably helped as well.
Our Christmas was great and the kids were happy with all that they received. What a wonderful feeling as a mom, right!!
The decorations will remain for the next week or so. The kids want everything up until they leave for school so I'm game. I will be taking down some of the decorations that I installed for others during January so I will get to mine when I am able.
I bought myself a new iPad after Christmas. We had one but never really used it. After watching the kids on theirs I couldn't stand it. So, gals let me know some apps that are highly recommended. I do not have the patience to spend hours browsing the app store so please let me know ones you love.
Happy New Year to you wonderful readers who kept me in your reader!!!! I'm very excited to come up with new resolutions that will probably be broken by the end of the month!!!

Pearls Round II

Just thought I would see if I had even one reader left out there. If I do, you can see that I have deleted all the previous posts. For the sake of prying eyes as well as no longer relevant topics, I think starting anew is a great idea. I seem to be in that new phase of life that I dreaded so much. This is our second year as empty nesters and I think we are getting the hang of it. I still feel the urge to vent about clothes, hormones and food so I am taking suggestions for future topics.

Things are great around our home. My darling daughter is graduating with her masters this weekend. I'm so very proud of her and loser boyfriend is so far in the past it almost seems like a dream. She is contemplating her future and sending out resumes. We paid for her apartment though March so she has a bit of time to get things in order. Son number one is doing great as a junior in college this year. His grades are much better and he is working without thinking the world is ending. Still has his precious girlfriend and hopefully will figure out what the heck he is going to do with that history degree he will have. He has almost completely ruled out law school and thinks he will go into sales or something. Son number two is in the midst of his second year as an architecture student. What a tough program! He made the five and a half hour trek home for Thanksgiving for two days. Once home he told me that the three other members of his project group stayed at school. Poor things worked through the whole holiday. He set up a drafting table in our kitchen and never left it except to eat. He rushed back to school because their project review was on the following Tuesday. He got in last night for the start of Christmas break and is really looking forward to doing nothing!

I have actually finished ALL the shopping, wrapping, decorating and Christmas cards early this year. What a great feeling. Probably paid more for everything but I just wanted to have all the time to spend with my darlings once they are home.

Is anyone else addicted to Pinterest? I just cannot seem to tear myself away. What a great design tool for determining what your style is and also for keeping notes on things you love. Wish I had thought of something like that. Those guys are probably going to be the next Facebook moguls.

I have kept up with all the blogs I love but have not made many comments over the last few months. My New Years' Resolution is to get back in touch with all the bloggers I enjoy so much. Hope I can recapture a few readers in the process! I might even jump on the OOTD bandwagon!