What I Wore and Weight Loss Wednesday...........

Well, here I am - it's Wednesday again - and I'm still not sure about the linky party thing - but I'm gonna give it my best shot! I am a little hesitant about putting photos of myself out "there" for people other than my friends and family to see, but here goes..................

Please join me, and many others, over at The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.

Friday we were supposed to go to a Lady A concert, but due to the weather it was cancelled. This is the second Lady A concert that we've had tickets to but didn't get to see. Thank goodness this one was rescheduled, but if I don't get to see them on the rescheduled date - I'm taking that as a sign and marking it off my concert bucket list!! Lady A - I'll catch you the radio!!

Not really needing an "excuse" to shop, I did feel I needed an "excuse" to purchase this jacket because it's not something I would wear everyday and we really don't get out much.  The jacket wasn't expensive at all, but so cute and looked like it would be the perfect Lady A concert attire!!  I purchased it and didn't want to wear it anywhere before I got to wear it to the concert, so it remained hidden in the back of my closet (what this old thing - I've had it for ages..............c'mon girls, please tell me you do that too!) for at least 6 weeks - then low and behold  - the concert was cancelled.  I was bummed!!  Really bummed for several reasons! I really wanted to get out of the house!! I needed to get out of the house!! I really wanted to see Lady A!! And I really, really, really wanted to wear my cute new jacket. The only one of those I could do anything about - was wear my cute jacket!! So that's what I did - I got dressed in the clothes I had planned to wear to the concert! I was all dressed up and no where to go, but my spirits were lifted and I felt good! I wore these clothes long enough for The Man to see me, make fun of me for getting dressed up, and take a few photos for this post.

jeans - gap

white ruffled shirt - old navy

scarf - gap

jacket -cato (yes, cato!!)

boots - shoe carnival

large black flower ring - jcp

 

I love this leopard print scarf! Look at the frayed edges!

check out the ruffled detail on my jacket! isn't it cute?? Love it!!

Saturday - I finally got to leave the house!!! I had been home since Monday afternoon!!

jeans - gap

boots - steve madden

white tshirt - gap

sweater vest - kohls

sunglasses - target

red necklace - langstons

gold necklace - american eagle

 Super Bowl Sunday!! Way to go Packers!!!

jeans - my favorite gap jeans

green cardigan - old navy

white tshirt - gap

shoes - toms (burlap!!!!)

necklace - premier designs (Angie Hesser)

yellow flower - made by me

big hair - circa 1985 (it's making a comeback kids and I'm all over that trend!!)

here's a close-up of the flower and necklace (and big hair - esp on the left side?!!)

Tuesday - ran some errands and had lunch with my youngest daughter.

cardigan - old navy

snap front shirt - old navy

gray tank - old navy

necklace - kohls

jenas - gap

grey shoes - payless

Today - another snow day!! No plans to leave the house, just need to stay warm!!

jacket - clearance - old navy ($2.49)

leggings - kohls

pink tshirt - old navy

gray tank - old navy

boots - fake uggs - sams

And now, for the weight loss part of the post...............I didn't lose any weight this week - but I also didn't gain any, which is a miracle!! Being snowed in for four days and having the Super Bowl all in one week, makes me think I can eat anything I want, anytime I want!  Thank goodness that week is over!!

So, here's to a healthier week!!  Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse!!

All You Need is Love..................

Love! Love is all  you need....................

Share the love - tell someone today how much you love them!!!!!  xoxoxo



The Reading Room.......

Happy Friday everyone!! The snow is falling again today, but thankfully, the sun is trying to shine. I NEED the sunshine!!!  Cabin fever is trying to set in, but as long as that sun is shining brightly, I think I can hang on for another day!

Yesterday the sun did shine - which made it difficult to get photos of my favorite room in my house.  But I think I got a few good ones. So here it is....The Reading Room!!

It's a small room, but has a huge west facing window and ceilings that soar to about 14 feet. It also has these awesome french doors that I absolutely love!!!

 Big, comfy, leather chairs to sink into while browsing through a great book or magazine!

  

The cowhide rug was a Christmas gift from The Man last year. He knows my heart! I would much rather have things like this than jewelry or diamonds!!!  Give me home decor, antiques, or even some good "junk" anytime of the year!!

There are many thrift store and antique store finds in this room! The stack of suitcases used as an end table are items I've collected over the past couple of years and the wooden gate leg table in front of the chairs is a recent purchase from one of my favorite antiques stores - The Rink. 

The bingo cards and the spinning bingo wheel (don't know what it's really called) make an interesting little vignette. 

The sweet little rosemary tree is a recent purchase from Lowe's for $1.49.  It was a Christmas clearance item that came in a bright red plastic pot. I simply tied a small piece of a burlap sack around the pot and added a metal rosemary garden stake.  It's so cute! Now if only I can keep it alive!! 

This large cabinet is another antique store find from years ago and most of the items on the shelves are from antique and thrift stores.  More suitcases and boxes and books.  I love using vintage books for decorating purposes. There are also photos of the kids sitting on the shelves. Oh how I love those kids!!!

The back of the cabinet is lined with a burlap grain sack -

Here's a corner of the room. The large basket is full of magazines. I took some out so it wouldn't look so junky for the photo, but believe me, it's usually spilling over with magazines. Mostly decorating magazines and Pottery Barn catalogs.  The ladder is a recent antique store find, but this probably isn't where it will stay in my home. I have some other plans for that little ladder! And the branches - I picked them up outside at my Dad's house.

And the other corner - a little antique child's desk and an old typewriter. This typewriter has a story - a family story. The Man's grandfather owned an upholstery shop and this is the typewriter he used to type out his invoices. He didn't want a computer - he liked the typewriter! When he retired and closed the shop, he started throwing things away - like in the dumpster - and this typewriter was one of the casualties.  The Man, knowing me like he does, knew that I would want the typewriter, so he went dumpster diving for me and found the typewriter the night before they were to empty the dumpster!!  How sweet is that??  I love that man - The Man!!

The old rusty cow bell is also a family "heirloom".  I got it from my dad.  He was going to throw it away - so of course, I had to rescue it!! Now it has a home hanging with the cows!

The wall next to the desk has this large (4'x4') board hanging as art work. I needed a quick fix to fill this large space, but didn't want to spend much money, so this is what I came up with. It's just a thin piece of plywood painted with layers of paint and distressed then I simply added vinyl "wall words".  The wall looks bare in this photo, so maybe I will add some sconces or something to either side of the board. What do you think??

And last - here's the beautiful transom window above the french doors. Love it! The little feather wreaths hanging on the window treatments are Christmas ornaments I found on clearance a couple of years ago. So cute!

So there's the Reading Room.  While I love this room, there are several things I want to do to it. First, I would like to paint it, just not sure what color. I like the mono-chromatic color scheme I have in there, just can't find the right color to put on the walls.  I think I want a dark color - like chocolate brown.  Do you have any suggestions or ideas? I would love to hear them!  Also, I want the room to have more of a library feel, so as a friend recently suggested, I am going to add a shelf around the perimeter of the room about 9 ft up and lots of books and other items I find.  Hopefully that will give it the feel and look I'm after!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoyed the little tour!

What I Wore and Weight Loss Wednedsday

OK - so I think this post will be a little weird because my blog is basically about my home decor and diy adventures, but in the future I want to link up with The Pleated Poppy for her "What I Wore Wednesday" linky party. It basically links you to other people's blogs where they have posted pictures of their outfits they wore for the week.  It's not meant to be vain, just a place to check out other people's fashion and for some girls it is a way for them to be more accountable for what they wear on a daily basis. Alot of these girls are stay at home moms and don't necessarily have to get dressed (up) each day, but also don't want to fall into a rut of wearing their sweats/leggings everyday.  And what girl doesn't love a little fashion inspiration from others??

I want to participate for a couple of reasons. I love clothes and I want to be more accountable for what I wear and know how I actually look in these clothes, plus I'm on a weight loss journey. Basically, I've been on this journey my entire life, but it really became clear to me when the little Wii Fit heckler dude categorized me as being obese. WHAT?????? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not in denial about needing to lose weight and be healthy, but obese???  Seriously?? 

Wii Fit dude - I.do.not.like.you.one.bit!!!! 

I've been going to the gym for about a year now - except for this past month - not sure what happened - I just wasn't seeing alot of weight loss results and I guess I got a little discouraged. But lesson learned! I did feel better, sleep better, and it's true about the "happy" endorphins!! I'm going back to the gym on a regular basis and I guess I will just have to work harder!!!!

I'm not confident enough in my "linking" ability to actually link-up with anyone this week and I didn't really wear much other than leggings and Uggs. 

don't laugh - I was comfy!!

But I will show you the 2 times I did get dressed in actual clothes this past week.  I warn you though, it's nothing special.  I think if I post these on here today, I will be more likely to actually get dressed in clothes other than my leggings for the next week - and learn more about linking up so I can join the party next week!!

Last Thursday I met The Man for lunch, then we headed to the rock yard to pick out some rocks for a big project we have going on here at the farmhouse. I'll tell you more about that later and I can't wait to show you the finished project!!!

jeans - my favorite - from The Gap

cardigan - American Eagle

white v-neck tshirt - The Gap

necklaces - heart necklace from one of my daughters

other long necklace - The Loft

This past Monday, I had to take my son to the orthodontist. Didn't even style my hair on this day!!  and I'm still trying to figure out how to take these pictures..............kinda weird taking my own picture!!

Photo taken in my favorite room!! I'll take you on a tour later!

photo taken by 15 yr old son - making fun of me of course!

jeans - skinny jeans from The Gap

white tank - Target

long sleeved tshirt - The Gap

boots - Uggs

eternity scarf - The Gap

hat - Showplace Market

here's a close-up of the flower on the hat. cute, huh?

I say I've been on this weight loss journey my entire life, but recently I was looking at some photos from high school and 10 years ago - oh, what I wouldn't give to look like that again!! We, females, are so hard on ourselves when it comes to body images. I just want to be healthy and comfortable!! But I'm not looking back, I'm moving forward and bringing you guys along with me! I'm not brave enough - and I don't want you to heckle me, too - so I'm not going to tell you how much I weigh - but I will tell you how much I lose - if any!!! So far this month, I have lost 3 pounds. Not alot - but at this point in the aging process - I'll take it!!!

Please help me stay motivated and thanks for making it to the end of this post!!!

Well, Hello February!!!

February certainly came in with a bang!!! I think the official name is "Blizzard 2011".  Sure hope this isn't any indication what the Groundhog will see tomorrow!!

I went outside long enough to snap a few photos and check on The Man as he was shoveling the driveway...........

 

 

My sweet sister gave me these adorable little rusty chairs awhile back and she wasn't sure I would like them! What, what??? I don't like them - I love them!! I love everything about them! The are white, rusty, worn, child size, and vintage!!

Aren't they cute??

And here's The Man!! Getting ready to shovel some snow!!

It's way too cold for me outside. I'm going back inside to think about tomorrow's blog post!

 

Drink some hot chocolate and stay warm!! Have a blessed evening, my friends!