SUMMER WISHES - FROM MY PORCH TO YOURS

Wishing you the best summer ever ...

time shared with friends & family,

not a care in the world,

no clocks,

no deadlines,

sand in your shoes,

and a sun-kissed face.

And as you enjoy this most lazy time of year, I hope you'll pop in now and then to see what we're up to

and

we'll keep "freshening up" our inventory for you while you're out playing.

Here is a quick peek at what's new now:

With lots, lots more to come including the long-awaiting BIG shipment from Denmark!

All our best summer wishes to you & yours...

~Ruth~

NO FINE PRINT, NO RIDICULOUS CONDTIONS, AND WE'RE NOT HOLDING OUT ON YOU!

*BE SURE YOU GO OVER TO THE MUSIC PLAYER ON THE SIDE BAR AND PAUSE THE STREAM OF MUSIC BEFORE CLICKING TO ENJOY THESE LITTLE VIDEO CLIPS!

Don't you just love some commercials? Here are some that I think are just great...

And they got me thinking about my store and how I've always tried to run my biz --

"N0 fine print",

No ridiculous conditions"

and we'll never (ever) do you wrong;

and if anyone ever has to "get the short end of the stick",

I make sure it's us,

not you.

Online shopping is supposed to be convenient, not a hassle -- and that's what we strive for:

convenience,

no hassles,

and always better than you even expected once your package arrives).

I hope you enjoy these "Friday funnies" and then go have yourself a FABULOUS weekend!

TEN LOVELY BLOGS GET THE "ONE LOVELY BLOG" AWARD

Cathleen from Vintage Home Lifestyle blog has SOOO sweetly passed on the "One Lovely Blog" award to me and I just love it!

Thanks, Cathleen! Right backatcha!

:)

In receiving this award, I am to now "present" it to 10 other blogs that I consider "lovely" (oh HOW do I choose only 10??) and in doing so, share those blogs with you!

So here goes...

1.) Bonjour Madame
2.) Paris Hotel Boutique
3.) Marley And Lockyer
4.) A Giftwrapped Life
5.) Faded Plains
6.) Hummadeedledee
7.) The Apothecary Shop
8.) Reese And Marie
9.) Adventures In Renovating A Brooklyn Limestone
10.) The Vintage Rose

I can't wait for you to link over to each of these blogs -- you'll see why they on my "top ten" list!

If you are named above, perhaps you would like to pass your "One Lovely Blog" award on to several 10 (or however many) blogs that you love following.

Doing so not only honors the blog, but gives readers of your blog a chance to get acquainted with blogs they may be missing out on!

Thank you, Cathleen of Vintage Home Lifestyle!!

Isn't blogging grand?

~Ruth~

WE HAVE A WINNER(S)! MY TARDINESS MEANS DOUBLE THE LOVE!

{Looks like my porch cherub is taking a siesta -- she just needs a little "Do not disturb" sign to hang on her hand!}

Boy am I sorry for being so late (though those who know me are saying "So what's NEW??")

It's been a busy, non-stop kind of day and I am just now posting the winner (well, now "winners") of my 100th blog post giveaway.

The two winners are

Tracie, from My Petite Maison

and

Laura, from 52 Flea

For everyone else.... oh how I want you to know I wish I could send each of you something!! Truly I do!

I hope to be better about more frequent giveaways this year -- last year I think I only did ... yikes.... one. One giveaway???

Well, that just won't do, so this year, stay tuned. They may not all be for multi-item "prize packages" but hey, a giveaway's a giveaway, right?

I mean this with every fiber of my being when I say

THANK YOU ALL FOR EVEN TAKING THE TIME IT TOOK TO JOT OUT YOUR COMMENT TO ENTER. YOU MADE MY DAY EACH TIME A NEW COMMENT CAME THROUGH.

~Ruth~

A GIVEAWAY FROM FAR AWAY...

No, I'm not doing two giveaways in a row...

{See the post just before this one for my giveaway}

Today I'd like to tell you about a giveaway from the far-off land of Norway (an area of our world that I'm becoming increasingly smitten with!)

The blog is Liv's Lyst -- En blogg fra mitt lille hjem...

(A blog from my little home)

Liv is giving away the most lovely dish towels made by her own hands (see them in the pictures!)

I see the incredible detail in these towels and am just awestruck. I struggle to get a button sewn back on, much less create anything close to these beauties!!

If you would like to enter her giveaway, head over to her lovely blog now and prepare to stay a while -- its pure, ethereal, Nordic beauty...

Have a great Tuesday!

~Ruth~

P.S.!!

JUST GOT WORD FROM THE FOLKS IN DENMARK ABOUT MY MUCH ANTICIPATED ORDER OF

BEAUTIFUL SWEDISH/DANISH THINGS FOR THE SHOP...

AND IT IS ON IT'S WAY!!

AND WILL END UP CONTAINING MORE GOODIES THAN I MENTIONED ON MY PREVIOUS POST!!

YES, I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF AND I ADDED MORE TO

OUR ORDER!

YOU'LL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN CRATES ARRIVE!

;)

"100 POSTS & 100 WISHES" GIVEAWAY!! (AND A "MUSIC MONDAY" MEMORIAL DAY EDITION, TOO!)

As promised -- this is my 100th post and with it, a giveaway...

to thank you

for your sweet blog friendship,

your encouraging and inspiring comments,

and just for being "out there" in blog-land alongside me.

Below is the collection of goodies I pulled together for the giveaway --

sort of a summery-fresh theme that I hope the winner will enjoy.

Some things to freshen your summer cleaning routine and at the very least, make doing the chores a bit more enjoyable...

Lemon Verbena Dusting Liquid, Lemon Verbena Furiture Wax (though the label says Lavender, I chose Lemon Verbena for you).

Lemon Verbena scented Dryer Sachets, and a candle in the uplifting, invigorating scent of Sugared Mint -- just the kick you'll need as an aromatherapeutic (how's that for a $60,000 word!) backdrop to your cleaning days.

Perhaps while you clean, you'll want to tie on this pretty cotton vintage-style apron!

You'll be as beautiful as June Cleaver from Leave-It-To-Beaver as you go about the day's tasks!

And because all cleaning and no R&R makes Suzy a very cranky gal...

once you have your home all spic-n-span and smelling lemony fresh, it'll be time for some YOU-TIME at the beach or park!

Load up this jute tote with all the necessities for kicking back -- your favorite magazine, your shades, snacks (CHOCOLATE??) a drink, & your iPod, then top off your pretty little head with this classic raffia hat and you're set!

And not to be forgotten, I give you "100 Wishes" - a roll of 100 of the sweetest retro-style tickets to dole out as you please to whomever you please...

And as the tag on the roll says

"If I had 100 wishes, I would give them all to you"

those are my thoughts to you, too, my blogging friends.

In order to be officially entered in the giveaway for ALL THE ITEMS YOU SEE ABOVE (NOT JUST ONE OF THEM!), simply leave me comment on this post -- that's it!

(If you leave a comment as an "anonymous" I will also need you to send me a quick email so that I will have some way to contact you if you win!)

I'll wrap up the drawing & announce the winner late in the afternoon on Wednesday, May 27th.

If you'd like an extra entry into the drawing, just mention the giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. If you do this, please be sure to email me letting me know you did, so I can give you credit! :)

Now...on to "Music Monday" for Memorial Day...

The song I chose is one I've loved so much for almost maybe 15 years! It is called "What Did He Die For" by Twila Paris. Unfortunately, I cannot provide the actual video here on my blog (something about the author not allowing the video to be embedded on other sites, or something...), so I can only give you a link to it on YouTube if you care to pop over and see it. CLICK HERE TO SEE IT

Wishing you MUCH relaxation with your family today and reflection on the reason for the holiday.

Thank you ALL, again, for being by blog-buddies -- I adore each of you!

~Ruth~

SCENES FROM A RAINY DAY & A 100th POST GIVEAWAY!

We have been in such need of rain here in Florida and this week we are finally getting it -- boy are we getting it.

I love how things look when it rains -- the colors seem more vibrant and intensified.

Yesterday while I was working, my daughter was home enjoying the rain (from inside) and apparently decided to take some pics -- capturing not only the yard but our furry brood as well.

"Brood" being the operative word when you see poor Nicodemus, the dog....

I love the brick pathway when it's wet with rain -- we had quite a blow and now it's time to pick up branches -- again. If you look closely, you can see the pointy red hat of the gnome who sits near the hammock just outside my daughter's window. He is "Gaston" the French gnome who has a giant brightly colored lollipop in his hand...perfect. :)

I love how Olivia altered the photo on the left of some pine trees -- it almost looks like instead of rain, we had snow! Oh what a sight to behold THAT would be!

Now on to the four-legged occupants...

Poor Nick -- he was so sad because on this day I sneaked out of the house without him (he almost always follows me to work) because he was sleeping so soundly inside with the rain outside.

Olivia captured his very sad look for me so that I would be aptly guilty when I saw what my leaving him behind did to him...

JUST LOOK AT THIS FACE!!

Oh how just a look with those eyes can just pierce your heart!!

But never fear...the cats appear, to cheer him up....

First Tigger appears ... Tigger is our oldest cat. Tigger was here first, before Nick, and it took a bit of jockeying for position before they became friends...

Tigger wakes Nick up from his sullen slumber to give him a rub-up-against...

Next, "Princess Annabelle" (she is SOOOO girly!!) shows up to rub up against Nick and assure him that he is loved...



Is this not the picture of sweetness?? Peaceful coexistence at the very least....

Below is Bugsy -- he is quite the character - lanky and tall and every bit the "gangster" he was named after!

HE is definitely the ringleader!


They really do love each other and the cats (who are strictly outside cats) love it when Nick comes out for a while and "honors" them with his presence on the porch.

Nicky hates the heat (got that from me) and prefers to stay indoors in the a/c, thank you very much.

:)

So, even though he was forsaken by me (by not going into work with me) all was well and I think he actually fared better in the long run -- he enjoyed the beauty and camaraderie outside instead of just staring at me work all day.



So this was my 99th post...

Hmm... #100 is next!!!

Sounds like the perfect excuse for a giveaway!

I'll try and think of something nice as a prize (suggestions are happily welcomed -- but I'm NOT parting with my Nicodemus! -- and I'll announce it all in detail on the next (100th!) post.

Thanks for popping in on this rainy day (for me anyway). The animals all say a BIG FURRY "HELLO" to each of you!

And thank you, Olivia, for thinking to capture all of this for us -- I would have never been aware of the doggy-drama that unfolded on my porch one rainy afternoon while I was away....

Staying dry -- hope you are, too...

Ruth

SPEED SHOPPING ANYONE???

Below is a super-fast run-down on just some of the things that are on our New Items page that I don't think have been blogged about since their arrival.

Scroll through for a quick look here and then head over to our New Items page on the website for more detail!

PSST! Don't forget our coupon code on the left-side bar here on the blog -- it gives you 10% off in addition to our everyday FREE SHIPPING!!!

Just so you know....

:)

Capiz shell discs -- write-on/wipe-off ease for use as placecards, buffet dish labels, or simply jot out an inspirational verse and display in a vignette....

Tin of Parisienne-themed rubber stamps -- what will YOU creat with them??

Sweet little sparrow candles (you get a set of two!) -- the perfect little "extra" for a fresh look!

Rococco chair notecards are given a funky spin dressed in fabulous bold colors!

"Bon Ami" / "Bon Jour" flour sack towel sets

Dei Gratia crown flour sack towels -- we LOVE these!!

Made from recycled glass bangle bracelets, you'll LOVE these super colorful frame sets!

We've added NEW SCENTS and this new "Chubb" size to our Capri Blue candle range!

Scents like Havana, Blue Jean, Black Currant/Cassis, Jasmine, Freesia/Plumeria & more!

Having a summer bbq?? How about these green leaf-topped picks in a natural bamboo cup!

Murano glass handled spreaders - use them or give them, they are simply beautiful!

Jute tote bags with a botanical theme -- beach outting or grocery store trips call for these!

Sets of 6 natural jute coasters -- the perfect addition to your summer table!

Pair this with our butterfly-printed jute totes and you've got yourself a stylish day at the beach!

The sweetest little necklaces! Perfect as graduation day nears!

Each one comes tucked in the cutest little "envelope" box!

Set of luggage-style storage boxes -- one of each color (with a surprise contrast print/color inside!) perfect for stashing all manner of things -- gals of any age will love these!

Recycled soda cans are given a CHIC new life as "pop art" cuff bracelets!

THE CUTEST! Short little vintage-style aprons have a sweet/sassy look! Tie one on and see how your outlook changes in a flash!

Are these not THE MOST GORGEOUS things in the world? Heavy ceramic French Grand Hotel wine coasters -- one on the front hall table will elegantly corral keys and spare change!

New assortments of Cavallini stickers -- all printed on the finest Italian cardstock...

Sets of tumbled marble coasters printed with the most beautiful images/designs...

and they look SO gorgeous even when they're not in use!

Below, one of MANY new 4" decorative gift tiles we're adding...and check out the bright & cheery "Keep Calm & Carry On" tile, too! We decided the original red poster color needed some funky updating!


Don't adjust your screen -- the vibrant colors you see below are truly THAT GORGEOUS in person! You will LOVE these new aprons and towel sets that have just been added!

And below, the stunning Paris apothecary jar that we carried for years is back! But we have a very limited supply this time, so get yours while we have them!!



And as a slightly less glamorous bit of news...

we've added Paypal as an additional option during checkout...

Aint life grand??

Just wanted to pop in and share these bits with you...now you can "pop" over to our New Items page and see each for yourself!

~Thinking of you...

Ruth~