Truly Blessed....

so...I celebrated my 48th trip around the sun...

and it doesn't matter one bit if anyone knows my age.

i'm just happy to be living this life:)

and i had an AMAZING birthday!

my family is so special.

they really thought about this one, that's for sure!

at the hospital where my husband works,

they have something called 

"The Garden of Hope and Courage".

it's so pretty and peaceful...

a place to remember or honor special people

and also a calming retreat for patients, visitors or anyone in the community

who wants to enjoy this special place.

WELL, we were going downtown to my favorite little italian

place (for WHITE pizza...YUM)

and we had to meet my husband at the garden.

there he was, sitting on a bench...

he invited me over, scooted to make room for me...

 and then I saw the plaque!

They had donated money to the hospital garden in MY name

and bought me my very own bench!

 can you believe that? 

and did I mention that this garden sits right outside the window area where

i would go should I have a relapse for MS and need IV treatments?

oh my gosh...how special is that!
when it cools off around here, I can't wait to go sit on MY bench:)
see...i'm blessed for sure with this family of mine.

but wait...it's not over.

after our DELICIOUS birthday dinner,

we went home to cake.

My girls made MINI CAKES for me!

 You simply clean out a few cans (from canned peaches, tomatoes...)

and bake the cakes in the cans...

VOILA...mini cakes!

We had vanilla, german chocolate and red velvet!

then...MORE gifts...and treats...

i got yummy candles, pj's, books...to name a few...

and more BIG surprises!

Gift #1...a cowboy hat because the girls knew I always wanted one.

Sweet:)

Gift #2...a cowboy type bling belt...

Cute:)

Gift #3...VIP tickets to see Rascal Flatts in concert the next weekend

in W. Palm Beach, our old stomping grounds.

OMG...are you kidding?  

they're one of my favorites.

so off we went, us three girls in our cowboy hats...

to our first "country" concert.

  and we ALL loved it, including my husband:)

then we went to our old church the next morning which I doubt

I'll ever stop missing, so that was like an added bonus.

we had so much fun and you know what?

i was reminded of how cool it is to give and receive gifts that someone

really took the time to think about, plan and surprise someone with.

i often forget that and just head to the mall but no more!

from now on, I will be a CREATIVE gift giver:)

to my family...thank you so much.

I LOVE YOU!!!

a truly precious story...

heartbreaking yet heartwarming at the same time.

but first, get the tissues ready.

now i'm sure you've all heard the tragic story

about the navy seals who were shot down recently.

heartbreaking doesn't begin to describe it.

as their bodies are being flown home, 

they are being laid to rest by family and friends.

but one navy seal, Jon Tumilson, 

was laid to rest by a very special friend...

his DOG, "Hawkeye"!

i didn't even need to see the photos before bawling all over the place...

but once i did, it just broke my heart.

at the funeral, Hawkeye, his loyal companion,

would not leave his side.  he laid by the casket throughout the whole service.

like i said...heart breaking yet heart warming.

i adore my dogs and have often said that if anything happened

to me, little Freddy should probably be by my side. 

 

i don't mean to sound morbid but this dog can't function without me.

he won't eat and will run from room to room, 

whimpering and frantically searching if I should happen to be out of sight.

on most days,

he and Maui  are my most loyal friends... and that's fine by me:)

so I thought I'd share some of my favorite dog quotes, starting with a long one

that is WELL WORTH READING!

i hope you like them too:)

XOXOXOXOX

Suzanne

Monday Morning Thoughts...

good morning!

it's Monday...a new day, new week...

another chance to either get it right, make it better,

or do the same old thing.

i just hate doing the same old thing...

even when I know I have to and that's just how life is.

perpetually bored and wanting change...

that's me:)

shoot....why am i so flaky?

once again....THAT"S ME! (hahaha)

hmmm...something to think about!

i think i mentioned that i text a "thought for the day"

to my shabby chicks each morning.

sometimes serious, sometimes funny...

always something to think about.

today i sent two...the message to God above and this one...

my girls are gonna love their messages today!

okay, next up...

i'm seriously thinking of getting my "Cool Mom" blog going again.

(see....very FLAKY:)

maybe it should be "Flaky Mom"!

it's just that i love sharing images and blog posts on Shabby Chicks

 that spell happYness to me...and maybe you too.

it's very much about sharing pretty things, thoughts and a recipe or two.

but i have been thinking so much lately that i would also like to write about

relationships between moms and kids, 

fun ideas, things that have worked for me...

and those that have not.

 

 i have so many thoughts, and i really don't think I want 

"Shabby Chicks" to be about that.

that's my flea market loving blog!!!

then again, it IS Monday...so maybe i'm just bored...AGAIN:)

i'll keep you posted.

but if you do visit Confessions of a Cool Mom...

please read "me, a cool Mom" in the sidebar.

it is NOT what the world think a "cool mom" is, trust me!

 

lastly, did you have a good weekend?

O.M.G...it is soooooooo HOT down here in South Florida.

which means you either need to be inside with the air condition blasting...

in a pool.....or floating in the Gulf.

which is what we did:)

                                                          

 i know i said "lastly" but i forgot something...

we saw "The Help" Saturday night.

 it was SO good!

loved the book and now LOVE the movie.

and it's not just a chick flick...

the story and acting is sooo good...

it's for everyone.

 (my husband thought it was GREAT!)

i don't watch the Oscar's anymore because i'm so sick of being told

crappy movies or ones that are inappropriate are "the BEST".

(that probably makes it official....i'm an old fart) hahaha

we'll see if hollywood remembers a "good" movie with a

wonderful message come oscar time.

and now that i got that off my chest,

i'm outta here!

XOXOXOXO

Suzanne

Inspired 4 YOU...

yes, I'm looking out for you!

actually, MARY is inspired 4 you...

with her UNIQUE home decor that i am IN LOVE with...

and I think you'll love it too!

okay, ya'll know i'm CRAZY about SUBWAY ART...

no secret there!

I even thought I would give it a try myself

with all of the amazing instructions out there.

but then I realized I have MORE than enough going on...

and sometimes you just have to look at those

who have perfected art FOR people like me...

someone like Mary, who creates and sells her art on etsy!

her shop is called Inspired 4 You Decor...
(just click on the highlighted links throughout to get to her store)

and she creates the most AMAZING subway art

inspired for YOU by YOU!

meaning she will customize any of this with YOUR names, dates,

special verses,

...thoughts
(love how you can add your favorite football team)

 favorite style...

you name it!

she will even customize the COLOR of the sign...

that's pretty COOL, you know?

here are a few more of my FAVORITES...
she literally has something for everyone!

please take a look and then stop by her store.

Mary has been SWEET enough to offer my readers a 10%DISCOUNT

if you place an order after seeing it here.

just enter the code SHABBY and she will know I sent you!

and by the way, her prices are already INCREDIBLE...

 so a 10% discount is icing on the cake.

 for the kids...

just for fun...

oh my gosh...I had never seen this before and I love it!

 AMEN!

so sweet...

I need one that says "Leo's Workshop":)

 for teens...

for all of us:)

for the rodeo fan...OR baseball fan too...

 see...something for everyone!
and trust me, there is so much MORE in her shop...
so go check it out NOW...
get INSPIRED...
you will be so happy you did!

XOXOXOXOXO
Suzanne

so many cool things out there...

I just had to share some of my favorites with you!

and because I stockpile photos and ideas,

i have to cram in a ton in one blog post.

who knows when I might do another?  haha

usually I make you read to the end for a recipe...

but not today.

check out this Autumn Chopped Salad!

 

seriously, doesn't this picture make you want to just

SHOVEL it in???:)

here's the recipe...thanks to Espresso and Cream!

Autumn Chopped Salad
Ingredients
*6 to 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
*2 medium pears, chopped
*1 cup dried cranberries
*1 cup chopped pecans
*8 slices thick-cut bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled
*4 to 6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
*Poppy seed Salad Dressing 

*Balsamic Vinaigrette (I like Newman's Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette)

Instructions
*On a large platter, combine the lettuce, pears, cranberries, pecans, bacon and feta cheese. Drizzle generously with poppy seed dressing, followed by some of the balsamic vinaigrette. (I would estimate  about a cup of dressing: 70 percent poppy seed dressing and 30 percent balsamic vinaigrette) If you prefer your salad to have more dressing, go for it.

now for some other cool things...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the idea of old photos in mason jars!

and these chairs are SO cool...

i have plates similar to these in a creamy white...

now I think a set or a few pieces like this would be amazing!

and they would be so AMAZING with this silverware...

moving on...

this coat, with it's ADORABLE ruffles (love ruffles)

would be on my wish list for sure!

and this bracelet is such a sweet, SIMPLE way to carry your babies

with you at all times:)

so I think I'd like to do THIS...

strip hardwood floors and paint on them.

(but then my husband might go just a little bit CRAZY :)

I wonder what he'd think if I painted chalkboard paint on the wall...

and wrote quotes all over it.  

COOL!!!!!

speaking of quotes...

 

and is this precious for a baby's room or what?

last but NOT least...

my early birthday gift to myself...

FAITH stackable rings:)

well, guess that's enough for one day.

I could TRULY go on and on...

but I won't.

so have a fabulous day!!!

XOXOXOXOXO

Suzanne