Posts Tagged: "repurpose"

Passing Down Family Heirlooms

- - Birthday, Christmas, Family, Gifts for Me, Housewarming, Mother's Day, Wedding

My husband’s job transferred him to Albuquerque in 1984. It was the first time either one of us had lived more than 10 miles from family. We were excited about our new adventure, and at the same time sad to leave our very close-knit family behind.

great-grandmother's-rose-bowl-thoughtful-gift-idea

Rose Bowl from Germany was given to my grandmother by her mother.

We moved into a new and larger home so I needed more wall decorations.

This was before we had the Internet so I visited several furniture stores, but had difficulty finding pictures I liked in my price range.

We lived several months without anything on the walls until one day I was making room to store old dishes passed down to me by my great-grandmother, grandmother and mother. Continue Reading

Deck the Walls with Christmas Cards

- - Christmas

Everyone sing with me!

Christmas-card-tree-thoughtful-sunburst-gift-idea

click to enlarge

Deck the walls with Christmas cards,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

‘Tis the season to branch out,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Place the cards in the shape of a Christmas tree

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Use painter’s tape or removable adhesive squares

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

I didn’t say it would rhyme. You probably had to sing it a couple of times to get all the words in but I think you got the message!

I love displaying our Christmas cards from friends and family to enjoy during the holiday season. This year, I used my cards as decorations to make a Christmas tree on my wall.

Continue Reading

Off to Boot Camp | Going Away Present

- - Birthday, Going Away, Graduation, Military/Veterans

Have you ever had a lump in your throat and eyes get watery with hot tears? That’s exactly what happened to me when I read an invitation to attend a surprise party for Jonathan before he goes off to boot camp.

Jonathan's Birthday Celebration

Jonathan’s Birthday Celebration

Many years ago when our children were little, the Ridge family moved in next door. Cindy was pregnant and within days of being our new neighbors, Jonathan was born.

He was always the baby of our neighborhood block and his siblings, Jayson, Jenifer, and Justin became my children’s best friends.

“Jon,” as we call him, turned 22 years old in September, and all he has ever wanted was to be in the military. As a kid, his birthday cakes were decorated with army men, tanks and trucks. Now the time has come.

Our families have stayed close even though we have not been neighbors for years. When I read the party invitation, it was like my own child had grown up and became a man overnight. How does that happen?! Continue Reading